Eric Watson, sheriff of Bradley County, will speak at the quarterly “Food for Thought” membership luncheon on Thursday, May 21, at noon at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber’s Small Business Committee designed the “Food for Thought” luncheons to provide a menu of diverse topics of interest to the community. Sheriff Watson will address the state of law enforcement in Bradley County since he took office in 2014.
Mr. Watson’s long career as a public servant began in 1991, when he began working in law enforcement for the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office as a community service officer. From there he moved to Marion County as a deputy sheriff in 1995 and back to Bradley County in 1999, earning a promotion to captain. He also served five years as a state law enforcement officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
In January, 2006 Mr. Watson was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving five terms representing the 22nd district. During his terms, he chaired the House Criminal Justice Committee and served on the State Government Committee and the Calendar and Rules Committee. In 2014 the residents of Bradley County elected Watson as sheriff of Bradley County.
Over his 24 years as a public servant, Mr. Watson has been involved in many philanthropic efforts and has won numerous awards. Most recently, he received the 2013 Housing Hero Award, 2012 Veterans of Foreign Wars Loyalty Day Award, 2012 Best Political Leader of Bradley County and 2012 TBI Law Enforcement Award. The Tennessee District Attorneys Generals Conference named him “2011 Legislator of the Year.” In 2010 the County Officials Association of Tennessee awarded him both the Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police’s “Outstanding Service Award” and the “Outstanding Representative Award.”
Mr. Watson is a graduate of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation State Academy, Tennessee Sheriff’s School, Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy, and Tennessee POST Instructor Development School. He has received professional certificates from The University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Martin (Civil Warrant School), Fox Valley Technical College, Tennessee Supreme Court on Courthouse Security, and the United States Marshall’s Service Training Academy. He is also a state of Tennessee certified handgun instructor and boater safety education instructor. In addition to his law enforcement education, he also earned a bachelor’s master’s degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary, graduating summa cum laude.
Mr. Watson is married and resides in Cleveland where he and his family attend First Baptist Church.
Reservations for the Dutch-treat luncheon are required to facilitate room setup and food. Call the chamber at 423 472-6587 to make a reservation or visit the events calendar on the Chamber’s website, www.clevelandchamber.com, by Tuesday, May 19.