Chief Mark Gibson
Chief Jonathan Bryant
Chief Felix Vess
The 2024/2025 Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) board of directors were sworn in at their 54th Annual Training Conference held in Nashville.
The TACP Board consists of 19 voting members including the president; immediate past president; 1st vice president; 2nd vice president; treasurer; 12 district directors; a SACOP representative, and two at-large directors. The president; 1st and 2nd vice presidents; treasurer and immediate past president make up the executive committee which oversees the general supervision of the affairs of the association between regular business meetings.
The new officers and board members include:
TACP President -- Chief Mark Gibson, Cleveland Police Department
Chief Mark Gibson was appointed Chief of Police on Sept. 21, 2015. He began his law enforcement career at the Cleveland Police Department in November 1997. Throughout the years, he has advanced through the ranks of patrol, investigations, and administration, gaining experience in a variety of operational and management functions. Today, he oversees a department of 107 sworn officers and 40 civilian personnel on an annual budget of over $14 million dollars.
During Chief Gibson’s leadership tenure, the department has experienced many advancements: an increase in the number of officers; the development of a variety of specialized units such as the Community Relations Unit, Crime Suppression Unit, and a traffic unit; reinstated and outfitted the K9 Unit; increased equipment and technology. The Cleveland Police Department is a Gold Standard CALEA accredited agency.
Chief Gibson obtained his master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy 247th Session. He has extensive specialized law enforcement training, including the National Forensics Academy, meeting the requirements for the TACP Level 4 Executive Leadership Certificate, and has received numerous commendations throughout his career.
Chief Gibson serves on several boards such as the Ethics Committee and Professional Standards Committee for the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. He also serves on the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force Board, Bradley Prevention Coalition Board, 24/7 Movement Foundation board member, and is Chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley County 911 board.
1st Vice President -- Chief Don White, Lenoir City Police Department
Chief Don White is a life-long resident of Lenoir City, Tn. He graduated from Lenoir City High School and continued his education with Roane State Community College, The University of Tennessee and University of Virginia. From 1988–1993 Chief White worked with the Department of Energy at the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Facility. In September of 1993, Chief White was hired by the Lenoir City Police Department. Within a few years his dedication and passion toward narcotics eradication afforded him the opportunity to work as a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Knoxville Resident Office from 1999-2006.
In January 2006, Mr. White was appointed Chief of Police with the Lenoir City Police Department. Chief White completed the Roger Williams University Leadership program for law enforcement in 2008. He was also recognized by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police in August of 2009 as the Chief of the Year. In 2011 Chief White completed the Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development program. In 2012 and 2013, Chief White completed the University of Tennessee Executive Leadership program as well as an East Tennessee Regional Leadership program. In June of 2015 Chief White graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, Session 260.
Chief White was appointed Director of Public Safety for the City of Lenoir City in November of 2012. This position supervises the Police, Fire and Code’s Departments of Lenoir City. Chief White serves on the Loudon County E-911 Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, where he currently serves as an Executive Board and Finance Committee member. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club, as well as working with the Young Life Program of Loudon County. He is a member of Lenoir City Committee 100. Chief White is also an active member of the International Chiefs of Police Association (IACP) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
2nd Vice President -- Chief Sean Patterson, University of Tennessee Police Department
Chief Sean Patterson was promoted to Chief of the University of Tennessee Police Department in November 2023. He was hired as the Assistant Chief of the University of Tennessee Police Department in 2020, after retiring as a lieutenant with the New York Police Department for more than 21 years.
During his time with the NYPD, he was training coordinator for its Emergency Service Unit, which performs tactical and technical rescues including high- angle rope and water rescues and vehicle extrications. Since 2015, he has served as safety officer for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. He directed an interagency task force responsible for the safety of the parade route and led a team of sergeants tasked with the safe operation and flight of 18 large helium character balloons, numerous smaller novelty balloons, and floats.
Mr. Patterson also is a retired Navy chief petty officer with 22 years of service including deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait, and Iraq. A native of Staten Island, New York, Patterson comes from a family of police officers and medical care professionals.
Treasurer -- Chief Jason Head, Springfield Police Department
Chief Jason Head has over 20+ years in law enforcement serving Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksville Police Department, and the United National Mission in Kosovo. He has served at the City of Springfield since 2006 – assigned to Patrol, Bicycle Unit, SWAT Team Commander, and Administration. Chief Head is a graduate of Springfield High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and a Master of Science in criminal justice administration from Bethel University. He serves on the Robertson County Recovery Court and is on the board for the Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals (TARCP). He is also a member of the International Chiefs of Police (IACP).
Immediate Past President – David Griswold (ret)
Recently retired, Mr. Griswold has over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, including Chief of the Nashville International Airport and various roles within the state of Tennessee. His career in law enforcement began with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as a Special Agent, and later served as an Assistant Director and the Deputy Director before being appointed as Interim Director of TBI. Moving on from TBI, he assisted in the creation of the Tennessee Office of Inspector General and served as the Deputy Inspector General before his retirement from state service.
Chief Griswold earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 164th Session. Furthermore, he completed programs at Leadership Nashville and the Tennessee Government Executive Institute. In July 2021, he attended the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).
SACOP Representative – Exec. Chief Jonathan Bryant, Chattanooga Police Department
Executive Chief Jonathan Bryant's career in policing spans over 29 years, during which he has held various roles. He joined the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) in 2000 and currently oversees the Criminal Investigations and Special Operations Bureau. Before this, he served as a deputy sheriff at the Loudon County and Bradley County Sheriff's Offices, gaining experience in different aspects of law enforcement, corrections, and criminal warrants service.
His career is marked by significant professional achievements that have contributed to making Chattanooga a safer community. His successful navigation of challenging and demanding roles within the Neighborhood Policing, Special Operations, and Criminal Investigations Bureaus showcases his transformative leadership skills. His ability to enact positive change that affects crime, innovative programming, and relational mindset to engage the community instills confidence in his leadership abilities in the 21st-century policing era.
Executive Chief Bryant is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy- Session 281, the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center's Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy, holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree from Bethel University, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education and a Master of Public Safety Degree, both from the University of Virginia (UVA).
His active involvement in various professional associations is a testament to his unwavering commitment to policing. Since his promotion to captain in 2018, he has been an active member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) and has served on the Leadership & Membership and Training Committees. His membership in the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum, the FBI National Academy Associates, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association further demonstrates his dedication to the field.
District 1 Director– Chief Jason Shaw, Elizabethton Police Department
Representing Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington Counties
Chief Jason Shaw began his career at the Elizabethton Police Department in 1999 and has served as the Chief of Police since November 2016. Chief Shaw earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University, has attended UT-LEIC Southeast Leadership Academy, graduated from the FBI National Academy class 278, and has been awarded the TACP’s Level 4 Executive Leadership Certificate.
Mr. Shaw serves on the board of directors of the Carter County Emergency Communications District and serves as the treasurer of the Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department where he has been a member for the past 29 years, 15 of those as a past fire chief.
District 2 Director – Chief Jeremy Myers, Tazewell Police Department
Representing Blount, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Jefferson, Knox, Sevier, and Union Counties
Chief Jeremy Myers has served as Chief of Police for the Tazewell Police Department since 2018. He has worked for the department since 2010, serving as a police officer, corporal, training officer, investigator, lieutenant, acting chief, and now Chief of Police. When appointed, he became the youngest police chief in the city’s history at just 33 years old. His law enforcement career began in 2006 with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Myers serves on several boards and is actively involved with his church. He also serves as a substitute school bus driver for the local school system. When not working he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, two of which were adopted through the state foster care system, boating, camping, singing and playing music.
District 3 Director – Chief Charles “Robin” Smith
Representing Anderson, Cumberland, Campbell, Fentress, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, and Scott Counties
Chief Charles “Robin” Smith has served as Chief of the Oak Ridge Police Department (ORPD) since 2018 – having joined the department in 2012. Prior to ORPD, he served 17 years with the Tennessee Valley Authority Police – 14 as Commander of Police Operations.
Mr. Smith began his law enforcement career with the Sevierville Police Department, where he served 15 years. As a member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police since 2008, he has served on the Leadership and Membership Development Committee, Professional Standards Committee, as chair of the Ethics and Standards Committee, and is currently on the Board of Directors.
He has provided training for the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy; the East Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Academy; the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence; the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security; and the Southeastern Leadership Academy.
Mr. Smith has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Organizational Management from Tusculum College, a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University, and is a 1990 graduate of the FBI National Academy.
District 4 Director – Chief Felix Vess, Chattanooga Housing Authority Police Department
Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, and Rhea Counties
Chief Felix Vess has been Chief of the Chattanooga Housing Authority Police Department since June 2004. Prior to joining that department, he was a police officer for the Knoxville Police Department from 1994 to 2002 and a Police Cadet with the Gatlinburg Police Department in 1991.
He has a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice/police science from Bethel University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy # 268, South Eastern Command & Leadership Academy (SCLA) in 2009 and a member of the International Chiefs of Police (IACP).
District 5 Director – Major Scott Winfree, Cookeville Police Department
Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Putnam, Pickett, and Smith Counties
Major Scott Winfree has been with the Cookeville Police Department since December 1989. As part of Chief Randy Evans command staff, Major Winfree currently serves as the Uniform Services Bureau Commander; Facility Project Manager; and Training Officer. He is also assigned as the Special Operations Group Commander; Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor; and Citizens Academy Instructor.
Major Winfree graduated from Upperman High School and has an associate of science degree in criminal justice and Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Tennessee Technological University. He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) in 1990 and the FBI National Academy in 2009.
District 6 Director – Chief Nichole Mosley, McMinnville Police Department
Coffee, Grundy, Franklin, Marion, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, White
Chief Nichole Mosley became the first female Chief for the McMinnville Police Department in January 2021.
Chief Mosley is a lifelong resident of Warren County, who began her law enforcement career in June of 1995 with the McMinnville Police Department as a patrol officer. She attended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy Basic Law Enforcement School. In 1996 she was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, where she served as Detective for 11 years.
In 2007 she was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant, which included many responsibilities, such as case assignments. In 2012, she was promoted to Lieutenant Detective, in which she was responsible for the daily operations and supervision of the investigative unit. Mosley was promoted to Captain in 2018 and served in that position until she was promoted to Chief of Police in 2021.
Chief Mosley is a Graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree and is a graduate of the 256th session of the FBI National Academy.
District 7 Director – Chief Charles Williams, Belle Meade Police Department
Cheatham, Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson Counties
Charles “Chuck” Williams is the Chief of Police for the Belle Meade Police Department. He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2003 and throughout his 21-year career, has served in many roles including officer, field training officer, general departmental instructor, sergeant, investigator, lieutenant, and Chief of Police.
Chief Williams has an associate and bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bethel University. He is also a graduate of the Chief Executive Leadership Development Program. In 2023, he obtained the Level Four Leadership Certificate of Excellence from the TACP.
District 8 Director – Chief Jack Burgett, Mt. Pleasant Police Department
Bedford, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, and Moore Counties
Jack Burgett has been in law enforcement for a total of 19 years, 17 of which were with the Mount Pleasant Police Department. For the past 10 years he served as the Assistant Chief of Police. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Alabama in Communication Studies with an Emphasis in Organizational Leadership.
District 9 Director – Chief David Crockarell, Clarksville Police Department
Benton, Dickson, Henry, Humphreys, Houston, Montgomery, and Stewart Counties
Chief David Crockarell has been leading the Clarksville Police Department since July 2020.
He joined the Clarksville Police Department in 1995 as a patrolman and steadily rose through the ranks as an investigator, and later as a patrol sergeant for seven years. In 2006 he was promoted to Tactical Unit Commander. He achieved the rank of lieutenant in 2008 and served as Training Director through 2011.
Promoted again to captain, Crockarell served as District One Commander from 2011 to 2017 and as Special Operations Commander in 2017 and 2018. In August 2018, Crockarell was promoted to Operational Deputy Chief, in command of all Policing Districts, the Special Operations Unit, the Traffic and Special Events Unit and the Community Relations Unit.
District 10 Director – Chief Walter Smith, Waynesboro Police Department
Decatur, Henderson, Hickman, Hardin, McNairy, Perry, and Wayne Counties
Chief Walter Smith started his law enforcement career at the Wayne County Sherriff’s Office in 2010 and graduated from the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2011. Smith was promoted to Sergent and served with the Sherriff’s Office until 2015. In June 2015, he became the Waynesboro Police Chief.
Smith has been an active member of the TACP for nine years.
District 11 Director – Chief Robert Sellers, Milan Police Department
Carroll, Crocket, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties
Police Chief Bobby Sellers began his career with the Milan Police Department in August of 1988. He worked his way through the ranks starting as a dispatcher, then after completing the Police Academy in 1998 served as a patrol officer, detective, commander, then was promoted to Police Chief in February of 2014. Chief Sellers went back to school to continue his education and graduated from Bethel University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with Honors. Throughout his career he has completed leadership training through organizations such as FBI-LEEDA, the FBI’s National Command Course, and the South Eastern Leadership Academy.
Chief Sellers is an active member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is an active member in the Milan Lions Club.
District 12 Director – Chief Thom Corley, Jackson Police Department
Chester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Lauderdale, Madison, Shelby, and Tipton Counties
Chief Thom Corley became the Chief of Police on January 3, 2022. He has been employed with the Jackson Police Department for over 34 years beginning his law enforcement career in 1990 as a Patrol Officer assigned to Patrol Division. He has served in various other roles within the Department, including positions as a Narcotics Investigator, Background Investigator, Internal Affairs Investigator, Hostage Negotiator, Use of Force Instructor and Legal Instructor. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Patrol Division in 1997, Chief Corley served in this capacity before becoming a Patrol Shift Commander upon his promotion to Lieutenant in 2008.
It was during his time as a Patrol Division Supervisor that Chief Corley attended law school, graduating in 2008. Chief Corley was promoted to Captain in 2009 (assuming the role of Department Legal Advisor at that time) and then to the rank of Major in 2013.
Serving as General Counsel for the Police Chief and Command Staff, Chief Corley provided legal guidance and training for all Department employees with regard to their duties as law enforcement officers. In addition, Chief Corley participated in other legal matters such as City Ordinance development, litigation defense, vendor contract reviews, and liaison with the District Attorney and City Attorney. In September 2019, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police.
Chief Corley is a lifelong resident of Jackson and graduated in 1986 from Jackson Central Merry High School. Chief Corley then served in the United States Marine Corps prior to becoming a Jackson Police Department officer. He later graduated from Bethel University attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Management in 1999. After attending Nashville School of Law, Chief Corley received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2008. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar, and a licensed and practicing attorney.
In addition to his duties at the Jackson Police Department, Chief Corley serves as Adjunct Faculty for Bethel University’s College of Professional Services teaching courses in Criminal Justice.
At-Large Director – Deputy Chief Michelle Jones, Morristown Police Department
Deputy Chief Michelle Jones has served with the Morristown Police Department since August 1998. She is currently assigned to the administration division where she is responsible for overseeing special projects, statistical information gathering and analysis, assisting with the budgeting process, personnel allocation, and grant writing. She is the commander of the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team and the Public Information Officer Unit.
She holds a master’s degree in organizational management from Tusculum College; a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’ of science degree in business management from Carson- Newman College; and earned an associate of arts degree from Walters State Community College. Chief Jones is also a graduate of the FBI’s Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development training program. She has completed First-Line and Mid-Management training courses as well as the Department of Justice’s Law Enforcement Leader Survival Course, Leadership in Policing, and Police Command Staff Workshop. In 2010 she graduated from the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy of the University of Tennessee.
At-Large Director – Chief Sammie Williams, Austin Peay State University Police
Sammie Williams is the Chief of Police at Austin Peay State University (APSU) Police Department. He has worked at APSU for the last 14 years where he worked his way up from patrol officer to Chief of Police.
Prior to coming to APSU he worked for Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice/homeland security with a minor in public management from APSU. He has attended many law enforcement leadership training courses and is a 2013 graduate of the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy.
His desire as he leads the APSU Police Department is to have a department that strives to help all the students get their degree and go on and become what they choose in life – always remembering it is the responsibility of the police department to keep the campus community as safe and secure as possible.
Outside of work he is a country boy at heart. He enjoys farming and gardening and has owned a small farm with his dad in the past where they raised cattle, hogs, tobacco, and hay. He has a strong desire to always remember where he came from and to help others advance in their career as much as possible.
TACP Executive Director Sharry Dedman-Beard
Overseeing the day-to-day business of TACP is Executive Director Sharry Dedman-Beard who was hired by the Association in November 2022. Retired with over 30 years with the federal government, Sharry came to TACP with a broad range of experience in conference planning; public affairs; budget management; working with state and federal grants; drafting policies and procedures; and program management and administration. As Law Enforcement Coordinator and Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee,
she worked extensively with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the largest federal district in Tennessee, as well as served on many statewide and national working groups and planning committees. She helped coordinate many high-level dignitary visits as well as local and national media events for both the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.
She is a native of Lebanon, Tennessee, and has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Middle Tennessee State University, paralegal certificate from Southeastern Paralegal Institute and additional legal studies from the Nashville School of Law.
TACP was founded in August 1970 with a focus on providing leadership training, public safety policy, and minimum standards for hiring law enforcement officers in Tennessee.
Today more than 1,000 members strong, TACP is the largest law enforcement leadership organization in Tennessee. Through a wide range of programs and partnerships, the association provides premier training for leadership, policy development through accreditation, public safety strategies and community engagement. TACP is a known leader in law enforcement and is actively engaged through its membership at the local, state, and national level.