Seth Lyles was appointed chief of the Dickson Police Department at a special session of the Dickson City Council Monday, March 18, 2024.
A 24-year law enforcement veteran, Lyles has been the department’s assistant chief since 2017 and was named acting chief following the retirement of Chief Jeff Lewis on March 1.
“Tonight, I am going to present Acting Chief Seth Lyles to you as my appointment as the new chief of the Dickson Police Department,” Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. announced to the council.
Lyles has been with the Dickson Police Department since 2000, advancing from officer to corporal and sergeant in the Patrol Division. He was a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division where he was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and administrative captain. He was assigned to the 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force as a narcotics agent.
Upon his return to the department as chief in 2017, Lewis named Lyles as assistant chief.
A 1996 graduate of Dickson County High School, Lyles earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Bethel University in 2015.
He is a certified Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instructor, firearms instructor, domestic violence instructor, TASER instructor, weapons armorer and field training officer.
Following the Mayor’s nomination of Lyles, Councilman Horace Perkins III (3rd Ward) made the motion to confirm with a second by Councilman Michael Outlaw (4th Ward), which was approved unanimously by the council.
Retired Chief Lewis pinned the chief’s badge on Lyles in a ceremony following the vote.
“The Chief of Police position is something that can’t be taken lightly, and I know I have big shoes to fill,” Lyles said. “I worked side by side with Chief Jeff Lewis for the last seven years. He is a great leader, mentor and friend to the employees at the Dickson Police Department. He taught me to embrace the good days, manage the bad days and be appreciative when the days are quiet. I look forward to our future, and the challenges that will come.”
Lyles is the 22nd officer to serve as chief of the city’s police force since the city was incorporated.
The position began as Chief Marshal with the appointment of J.J. Haggard at the first meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 12, 1899. He was responsible for daytime hours at a salary of $35 a month. Joe Hetherington was named the Second Marshal and was responsible for night duty at $30 a month.
In the city’s 125-year history, Rick Chandler has the longest tenure as chief at 25 years (1992-2017), followed by John Sheeley (1902-21) and John Baggett (1964-83) at 19 years each, with those three men accounting for half of the city’s history.
