The Sweetwater Police Department is a major force in the effort to make Sweetwater a wonderful place to raise a family. Non-emergency Dispatch: 423-442-HELP (4357)
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» Email Captain Watson P.O. Box 267 Sweetwater, TN 37874 (423) 337-6151
» Email Captain Detective Scruggs P.O. Box 267 Sweetwater, TN 37874 (423) 337-6151
P.O. Box 267 Sweetwater, TN 37874 (423) 337-6151
The Sweetwater Police Department, headed by Police Chief Eddie Byrum is a proactive force in the Sweetwater Community. A captain, 3 detectives, and 16 full-time officers, 11 auxiliary and part-time officers, and a TIBRS certified clerk work diligently to keep Sweetwater safe each day. All full-time officers are post-certified, radar certified, CPR certified, and required to attend 40 hours of in-service training annually, with special instruction in their chosen fields. Captain Kevin Watson facilitates training programs and along with the 3 patrol sergeants helps direct the 12-hour patrol shifts. The department includes D.U.I. Instructor, Brandon Cansler; a domestic violence instructor, Sergeant John Brewster; 5 CPR instructors; 2 PR-24 instructors; a 5-man seasonal bike patrol unit; and an ESU team for tactical and high-risk operations. Captain Detective John Scruggs and Detective Kevin Watson head investigations; Kris King serves as firearms instructor, and several officers are certified for methamphetamine investigation. The department is an active participant in the Meth Task Force. Detective Marty Kyle serves as the Narcotics Officer, and is available for educational presentations for civic and school groups. SPD trains and supervises the School Resource Officer team to provide school security officers in the Sweetwater City School system K-8th grades.
Numerous educational programs include bike safety, the Eddie Eagle gun safety program, several drug awareness programs, and the Stranger Danger program. The detectives head up the Fingerprint America program, which provides child identification kits for local school children.
Sweetwater citizens make up several programs supervised by the SPD. There are currently 9 participating Neighborhood Watch programs. SPD has a Citizen's Police Academy, which is a 10-week training program to give citizens an inside look at the SPD. Graduates may become members of the Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association, which is headed by an elected President, and SPD liaison.
The Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association assists the SPD with citywide functions, such as parades, festivals, and car shows. They also assist in the organization of the nationally award-winning "National Night Out" program, headed by SPD Sergeant Daniel Johnson.