Dickson Police Department Chief Jeff Lewis is retiring after more than 35 years with the City of Dickson.
Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. recognized Lewis with a plaque and proclamation at the Monday, Feb. 5 City Council meeting, noting that Lewis has served in multiple capacities during his time with the city.
“Jeff has served the citizens of the City of Dickson in several different positions during his 35-year career and in each role he has excelled and been an excellent leader,” Weiss said. “He has never failed to step up to any challenge and has proved to be a valuable asset for the city.”
Lewis’ official last day as chief of the Dickson Police Department is Friday, March 1, ending a career that lasted over 35 years and included time as a police officer, Parks and Recreation Department director, director of the Public Works Department and as chief of police for the last seven years.
The mayor presented Lewis with a proclamation stating he has “served the Citizens with faithfulness, integrity and loyalty for 35 years, 6 months and 15 days.”
With family members and many of the officers of the Dickson Police Department present, the City Council members gave Lewis a standing ovation and he was presented a retirement bonus.
“What a ride,” Lewis said in an emotional response. Pointing out the uniformed officers in the chamber, Lewis praised their devotion to law enforcement. “We strived to put God first, our families second and our jobs third. You’re in good hands, folks. Those are the best men and women in the state of Tennessee and in this country. I’d put this department up against anybody in the state. First class men and women. We’re all brothers and sisters.”
The son of Joyce and Clay Lewis, a former Dickson Police Department officer, Lewis graduated from Dickson County High School in 1983. He joined the Dickson Police Department as a patrol officer Aug. 16, 1988, and graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1989.
Lewis became the department’s first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer in 1990 and would become a DARE instructor mentor for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Lewis rose to the rank of captain and was instrumental in the creation of the department’s Law Enforcement Explorer Post.
On Nov. 1, 2004, Lewis was nominated by Mayor Weiss and confirmed by the City Council to become director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
After the city combined its Parks and Recreation, Street and Sanitation, Cemetery, Building and Grounds and Right-of-way Maintenance departments into the Public Works Department, Lewis became interim director of the new department in February 2012. He later was appointed director of Public Works on July 2, 2012.
When Dickson Police Department Chief Rick Chandler retired after 33 years with the department, Mayor Weiss named Lewis acting chief May 17, 2017. On Aug. 7, 2017, Weiss nominated and the City Council confirmed Lewis as the city’s 21st chief of police.
During his tenure as chief, the Dickson Police Department expanded its School Resource Officer program to include nine officers serving all six public schools located in the city, received grant funding to upgrade its body and in-car camera and computer systems, created a Traffic Division including two motorcycle officers, created a bicycle division that improved mobility for officers in the downtown area, worked with other departments to create the city’s Office of Emergency Management, worked with the Humane Society of Dickson County to increase funding and join forces with the city’s Animal Control Division, helped start the Citizens Police Academy as well as other programs and equipment improvements.
Lewis also served on the board of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission that oversees training standards and law enforcement certification across the state of Tennessee 2009-17.
A lifelong Dickson County resident, Lewis and his wife of 37 years, Lynn, have sons Tyler and Daniel (wife Hannah) and daughter Lisa Harden. Daniel Lewis has been an officer with the Dickson Police Department since 2017, serves as a school resource officer and recently was selected to be a THP DARE mentor, like is father was.
Weiss said Assistant Chief Seth Lyles will assume the position of acting chief at the conclusion of Lewis’ shift on March 1.
The Dickson Police Department originated with the appointment of J.J. Haggard as chief marshal and Joe Hetherington as night marshal in May 1899. It has grown to consist of 64 certified officers and six support personnel providing 24-hour service for 16,000 residents in 20 square miles.
