Almost 4 years ago to the day, Sheriff Tommy Jones started in a life-changing meteoric rise: On 12/9/2014 he was appointed as interim Sheriff by the County Commissioners.
What seemed like at first, a 'wet behind the ears'
unknown twenty something, has made dramatic improvements to Monroe County Sheriff's Dept. that his critics never expected--since then, he has won two elections, and if he stays the course, may be unbeatable and will likely *keep his job until he decides to retire, unless he really screws up--See "2022 Alijah Kensinger Missing Child Alert." It turned into a 19 hour search for a six year old that was sitting under a tree less than a mile behind the grandmother's house.
What seemed like at first, a 'wet behind the ears'unknown twenty something, has made dramatic improvements to Monroe County Sheriff's Dept. that his critics never expected--since then, he has won two elections, and if he stays the course, may be unbeatable and will likely *keep his job until he decides to retire, unless he really screws up--See "2022 Alijah Kensinger Missing Child Alert." It turned into a 19 hour search for a six year old that was sitting under a tree less than a mile behind the grandmother's house.
For the most part, Sheriff Jones has been able to side-step controversy--the first notable incident was brought to the public's attention by Eddie Manning, a deputy he had justly fired for planting evidence in 2015 and/or bringing contraband into the MCSD jail--In 2014, Manning was campaigning "in uniform" for Sheriff Bill Bivens in the Coker Creek Williams Market--before leaving the store I (MS) said "Randy White is going to Win" ...(which he did)--soon after driving off, I saw Manning's patrol SUV in my rear view mirror 'inches from my back bumper' the entire two miles right up to my driveway...it was clearly an intimidation ploy. Manning was one 3 deputies that sued after getting fired and was the only one that was not awarded any monetary compensation.
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The most unusual comment in the press briefing (shown in video) is "We are not in the storage business." ...that's one of the most absurd comments you will ever hear from the head of a law enforcement agence...WATE News reported that guns from the evidence room (see video below) had been sold to a business owner formerly associated with the Tellico plains Police during the Bill Isbell and Don Charest tenure, in which several seized guns had disappeared and funds from police fund-raisers were not being deposited in city bank accounts.
The Sheriff's Dept. is no longer associated with Don Charest or any of his former cronies.
"We are Judged by the Company We Keep"
After being appointed interim Sheriff by county commissioners on 12/9/2014, Jones was all for Randy White staying on as sheriff after the technicalities could be worked out--however, the 'lust for power' changed the story line: Jones later 'fired' Randy White who he had named as his chief deputy.
Randy White has no one to blame but himself!... It turned into a classic case of 'you snooze you loose'.
Randy lacked the POST Commission requirements in 2014 by just a few days, and in 2018, had become eligible to be sheriff, however, Tommy Jones wouldn't let go...who can blame him?, it's pretty cool to be sheriff--the whole thing has elements of trust, betrayal, greed, and the makings of an A&E Investigation Discovery episode.
