School Resource

These officers provide each school with security and traffic control, first response to emergency situations, work with school administrators to resolve law enforcement matters, counsel students, instruct courses relating to their expertise, and promote drug awareness and prevention amongst many other duties they encounter. Having these officers accessible to students has helped build strong relationships and create a mutual respect between law enforcement officers and our community's youth that will carry them on into adulthood.

Transportation

These Deputies are responsible for the transporting of inmates, including juveniles and the property for each, for things such as court appearances, psychological and medical treatment, transports to other agencies and any other activities that require leaving a jail facility. They are also responsible for picking up prisoners apprehended in other states and bringing them back for trial. These deputies are armed with a firearm and trained in specific shooting and handcuffing techniques as well as defensive tactics, driving skills and the use of shock belts and shackles. These special skills help in the daily execution of their duties.

Jail Clinic Staff

The McMinn County Justice Center is staffed by trained medical personnel who care for the health needs of the inmate population. The staff performs tasks such as wellness checks, crisis and mental evaluations, the administering of medication and making referrals for outside treatment along with any other minor medical needs. A physician is also available to those with more serious concerns. Those with immediate need for more intense medical treatment are transported to the hospital via ambulance or transport unit.

Dietitian and Kitchen Staff

The McMinn County Sheriff's Department has 2 dietitians in the Kitchen Staff. These dietitians, along with assistance from inmate trustees, provide nutritional meals for the inmates that are incarcerated at the Justice Center. The meals and nutrition content are mandated through the State of Tennessee. Some inmates have special dietary needs which are met by the kitchen staff. They prepare three meals each day for over 200 inmates.

Environmental & Litter Control

Environmental and Litter Enforcement Deputies are on staff with the McMinn County Sheriff's Department in a proactive program to combat illegal dumping and littering that occurs in our county. Illegal dumping issues are usually low on the list of enforcement priorities for most departments. However, the McMinn County Sheriff's Department designed a division that has had a significant impact on cleaning up our beautiful county with the help of local programs and grants. The deputies in this division work with jail trustees to clean up many dump sites and roadways throughout the county. These types of programs become recognized in the community when citizens know who they can call to report dump sites, littering or vehicles and subjects they suspect may be involved in such activities. Anyone with information about illegal dumping may call or email the department.

Chaplain's

McMinn County Sheriff's Department is blessed to have trained Chaplains available to the needs of law enforcement officers, victims of crimes, other public agencies and members of our community who face moments of crisis, tragedy or those seeking spiritual counseling. The Chaplains bring experience, training, and skills to the department and often offer support to officers and the public in areas dealing with stress, family life, relationships, ethics, or other issues that may be distracting them. Chaplains serve many personal and spiritual needs of individuals by responding where they are, when they need the support of another person who comes to them without judgment, and cares for them until the crisis moment is over. They are available to assist the department with funeral escorts and other requests as needed. Chaplains represent a wide variety of religious traditions and levels of professional preparation and endorsement.

Civil Process

The McMinn County Sheriff's Department has one full-time civil process server who receives, maintains, tracks and serves all legal process in McMinn County. This includes paperwork such as Orders of Protection, Summonses, Subpoenas, Eviction Notices, Writs, Divorce and Custody Petitions, etc. This deputy's position is an important part of the legal process because proper service can prevent court delays by ensuring that those due in court have officially received all necessary legal documents. Civil Process Server's must maintain excellent communications skills, both written and verbal. They must work independently and be able to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality. Since serving civil process puts the officer at risk of coming in contact with volatile persons, the Civil Process Server is a post-certified and fully armed officer.

Information Technology Specialist

This deputy oversees the installation, configuration, maintenance and administration of network hardware and services infrastructure, including servers, routers, firewalls, switches, associated operating systems and server software.  He utilizes appropriate tools and systems to monitor network and server utilization, physical security and troubleshoots and remediates network and server related problems. He monitors, maintains, and troubleshoots desktop clients in relation to their access to network and server related services in a Windows environment. The deputy analyzes, detects and remediates connectivity and performance problems on LAN, WAN and VPN infrastructure.  This deputy installs, upgrades and supports network and server related equipment. He demonstrates the use of installed systems to end users.  He also maintains and supplements current documentation; maintains and supplements records of network, server, and related hardware inventory. The deputy interacts with PC and network vendors and contractors.

The deputy in this position also serves at the agency's Terminal Agency Coordinator in relation to NCIC to include policies, procedures and regulations set forth by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.  He is also charged with the task of training and maintaining certifications and recerfications for officers in order for them to access information through the TIES & NCIC networks and AFFIS fingerprinting machine.  The deputy also maintains state databases TraCS, TIBRS, TITAN, EAGLE, INTELLIMOBILE, VINE, GEOCONEX and other reporting systems and information contained in them.

The officer in this position is also in charge of downloading digital evidence from patrol cameras and jail security cameras and storing the data for evidence to be used in trial. He handles media releases to the news and public relations outlets. He is also the Sheriff's Departments webmaster for this website and maintains it's content. He performs in several administrative tasks as well as field operations and intelligence within the drug  unit and other related duties as assigned. He assists investigators on internet and high tech crimes by performing a forensic analysis on electronic media and secures the digital evidence. The deputy also assists with tasks in other divisions as needed or requested.

Court and Judicial

The McMinn County Sheriff's Department is staffed with armed Court Officers who perform various tasks throughout the judicial system. Court Officers are responsible for maintaining order and providing security in courtrooms, court buildings and surrounding grounds. They escort judges, juries, witnesses and prisoners to and from the courtroom and provide general information to visitors on court premises. They use established search procedures to assure that no weapons or electronic or photographic equipment are brought into the courtroom. These deputies execute warrants, make arrests, manage court dockets, and coordinate other activities necessary to ensure the safety of the judicial staff and the public. They are required to maintain order by removing or calming disruptive individuals, and at times must physically restrain unruly individuals. Court Officers are available to provide assistance in any emergency situation that may arise during judicial proceedings. When court is not in session, these officers also serve civil and criminal process.

Reserves

A valuable asset to the McMinn County Sheriff's Department is the Reserve Deputy Division. The Sheriff's Department  has active reserve deputies who volunteer many hours of service. These deputies are comprised of community-minded adults with either successful careers in another field or are aspiring law enforcement students with a desire to become a full-time deputy. These men and women share a dedication to public service and take pride in the purpose of serving their community. They act in a support role to the sworn officer any time there is a need for extra police presence. They also assist in many special duties such as neighborhood, sports and church sponsored activities where security or crowd control may be needed.