ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) Law enforcement agencies across East Tennessee are offering their support to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office as they mourn the loss of KCSO Deputy Tucker Blakely. Blakely was shot and killed while responding to a domestic call on Sunday night. He was transferred to UT Medical Center where he later […]
Johnston County sheriff offers unique insight into cross-deputation agreements
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Law enforcement in Johnston County has been a shared responsibility between its sheriff’s department and Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police since 2006, making their cross-deputation agreement one of the first in the 13-county tribal territory.
Sheriff Gary Dodd says the cooperative effort is critical for the protection of Johnston County residents and deputies alike.
Dodd, a former Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police investigator, has witnessed first-hand how mutually beneficial the arrangement is from the tribal and non-tribal sides, giving him a different vantage point than most.
“I’m talking to you with a unique perspective that I don’t know any other sheriff in the state has,” Dodd says. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think cross-deputization agreements are beneficial; I think they’re essential, especially after McGirt takes effect. I don’t think you’ll