SpecialSquads

TENNESSEE LAWMAN

Honoring the Men and Women behind the Badge

six troopers with marked station wagons and equipment on ground

Highway Patrol Tactical Squad commanders Sergeant John McCord, left, and Lieutenant Joe West show equipment to Knoxville Captain John B. Edwards in 1972. Three other members of the squad observed from the background.

officer standing in front of horse, holding bridle, in front of shrubs

An officer in the Memphis Police Department Mounted Patrol created at the Barksdale Station in 1911. In 1912 the uniforms of the mounted officers were changed to be the standard patrol style uniform, except for riding boots.

three officers in ball caps walking with three dogs across training ground

Three of the original Metro Nashville Police Department K-9 teams trained at the academy from left to right were Officer Tommy Gentry with Max, Officer Charlie Spain with Rebel and Officer J. R. Johnson with Wolf.

line of near-20 officers on horseback in downtown street

Fifteen mounted patrolmen and two supervisors were assigned to the new mounted patrol in 1911. The unit was headquartered at the newly built Barksdale Mounted Police Station. In this photograph they were in formation in downtown Memphis.

trooper walking toward bubble-top helicopter carrying carbine rifle

Highway Patrol Sergeant Leonard E. Schultz started his tour on helicopter patrol in March 1974. He carried an M1 Carbine in case he needed the fire power. (Jackson Sun photo)

8 officers in ball caps in two rows beside large marked van

Metro Nashville Police SWAT team. Kneeling were from left to right, Officer Joey Bishop, team commander Lieutenant Tom Dozier, Sergeant Phillip Sutton and Officer Richard Hillenbrand. Standing were officers Jimmy Hickson, Ken Pence, Mickey Garner and Richard Briggance.

Home	Early Lawmen	New Century	Motor Cars	Motorcycles	Patrol Duty
Investigation	Special Units	Insignia	Fallen Officers	The Book	Contact Us

Special units were created by law enforcement agencies to meet special needs. Mounted units were created in larger cities as the residential areas grew, dog units for search and other functions, air units for many uses, tactical units to respond to violent encounters and units to deal with psychological as well a physical dangers.

two officer staning beside German Shepard dogs

The Chattanooga Police Department first established a dog squad in 1961. Among the department’s earliest dog teams were Officer Dean Gross with Prince, left, and Officer L. P. “Skeet” Schoocraft with Jack, right.

thee troopers standing on shore behind boat with helicopter and marked car in background

The Highway Patrol added a six-man Water Safety unit in 1963. The unit was under the command of Lieutenant Charles Graham and had three boats that worked public water area across the state.

six officers in ball caps standing beside marked utility van

The first full-time Jackson Police Department Tactical Unit included, from left to right, JPD Officers Perry Hearn, Mike Turner, Mike Shepard, Wayne “Butch” Day, Madison County Deputy Sheriff Mark Caldwell, and JPD Corporal Edmond Cepparulo standing in front of the converted ambulance the unit used as a mobile command post.

Metro Nashville Officer Terry Burnett and his K-9 partner Aron. K-9 Aron was shot and killed by an armed bank robber on the morning of May 15, 1998 and Officer Burnett was wounded.

five helmeted horse officers on a residential street

Knoxville mounted patrol in 1910. Patrolmen wore helmets with wreath insignia. Lieutenant W. L. Jack, second from right, wore a hat with no insignia. His breast badge was a shield with cut star and a top panel for rank designation. (Photo courtesy of McClung Historical Collection.)

four toopers with bubble-top helicopter, one seated in aircraft

The Highway Patrol began use of helicopters in 1957, the first state agency to do so. Two Bell 47 helicopters were purchased initially. The fleet was soon expanded with military surplus aircraft. Inspecting one of the new helicopters were from left to right Jackson District Lieutenant LaVerne Maxwell, pilot Lieutenant Bob Seamon in the chopper, head of the aviation unit Captain Truman Clark and Jackson District Captain Noah Robinson.

five officers in front of three helicopters

The Metro Nashville Aviation Division included from left to right Richard Thomas, J. W. Davis, Lieutenant Kerry Newman, James Stewart (mechanic) and Robert Milliken.

nine officer in fur-collar jackets in front of helicopter

The Memphis police Helicopter Squad was formed in 1969 using a single Bell Helicopter. The unit included pilots kneeling from left to right Lieutenant Larry Joe Cook, Commander of the squad Captain Glenn Moore and Lieutenant Jimmy A. Dungan; and officers standing from left to right Lavern “Larry” Childers, Larry Childress, Joe Bixler, Don Smith, Carroll Langston and Leonard Biggs.