Sheriff CJ Ball

The mission of the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office is to protect the lives and property of the citizens they serve, to reduce criminal activity, fight the drug issues, school drug education, protect our children from harm, and to enhance community policing and community interaction in Cocke County. The men and women at the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office are committed to serving and protecting by working stronger together with the citizens of our community. The Sheriff is always available to the citizens of Cocke County, especially to seek advice from our citizens good or bad, to make our agency a committed office to serve our wonderful community. God bless the citizens.

Chuck Evans, Assistant Chief

Josh Hartsell, Jail Administrator

Meet the team

Doug Atkins, Chief Deputy

CJ Ball, Sheriff

Corey Ball, Assistant Jail Administrator

About:

Cocke County Sheriff’s Office has been an active department since around the 1800s and has an estimated 458 square miles to patrol each day. There are an estimated 40,000 people in Cocke County, and you have 20 full time patrol deputies that must answer an average of 35 dispatched calls per 12- hour shift. We are proud of our agency and the officers that work for you. Under the strong leadership of Sheriff CJ. Ball, you will see a continued commitment to the citizens of Cocke County. We believe in community policing and building strong relationships and rapport with you. Between the Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center, we have 97 employees full time, and 8 part time employees. We are the second largest general funded office in the county. The school system is the first. The biggest expenditure for taxpayers is the detention center when it comes to the budget for the Sheriff’s Office. We are a fee office, so we generate thousands of dollars each year to provide money to the general fund.

TRT:

  • What is a tactical response team?

    A tactical response team is an elite paramilitary tactical unit in American law enforcement departments.

    They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside the abilities of regular officers.

  • What is the purpose of a tactical response team?

    The purpose of a tactical response team is to provide protection, support, security, firepower and rescue to police operations in high personal risk situations where specialized tactics are necessary to minimize casualties.

  • What duties do tactical response teams perform?

    Hostage rescue

    Riot control

    Perimeter security against snipers for visiting dignitaries

    Providing superior assault firepower in certain situations, e.g., barricaded suspects

    Rescuing officers or citizens endangered by gunfire

    Counter-terrorist operations

    Resolving high-risk situations with a minimum loss of life, injury, or property damage

    Resolving situations involving barricaded subjects

    Stabilizing situations involving high-risk suicidal subjects

    Providing assistance on arrest warrants and search warrants

    Providing additional security at special events

    Special stealth operations with silenced or suppressed weapons

Reserves:

Cocke County Sheriff’s Office special deputy program also known as the reserve program has changed over the years and is much tougher to involve yourself as a volunteer. The state has changed several laws and regulations which include: 80 hours of training within the first year of your service (cost $100.00), completing a medical exam with your primary care physician (copay), a physiological exam ($250.00), and the purchase of the equipment to get started such as firearm and vest. We try to purchase some items to assist in the program but due to the full-time officers having such a limited budget, we must make sure that they are completely equipped. All other expenses must be up to the reserve or special deputy. This is unfortunate, but budget restraints are tough for all department heads. We cherish the ones that we have as they worked hard to get to this point and implement them as much as possible. We are looking at alternative ways to fix the budget issues to build this program in the future.

For more information about the reserve program or special duty program, you can contact Captain Jonathan Ochs at @cockecountytn.gov or call (423) 248-6308

Jail:

General information

Average population: 165

We have approximately 25 trustee positions, but we try to work as many as possible. The positions are as follows:

Kitchen staff, litter control, laundry, custodian cleaning, cell trustees, and non-profit work.

We have 24 full time floor correction officers. The starting hourly rate for a correction officer is $16.00. You receive health care benefits, 1 week vacation after a 30- day probation period, TCRS retirement plan, opportunities to work overtime and gain comp time for hours worked over 43, and each officer gains one sick day per month.

We have several rehabilitation programs in our facility which include faith base education on Tuesdays, JCAP rehabilitation program, RU program, Helen Ross McNabb, West Care Tennessee, Rural Medical Services, and Cherokee Mental Health.

New inmate items

No outside Items are allowed. Inmate items must be purchased from Commissary Kiosk. Money can be placed on inmates commissary accounts by visiting The secure way to send funds and messages to your loved ones - Access Corrections or inmates phone accounts by visiting Inmatesales.com

Submitting a tip:

Submit a drug tip:

Call (423) 623-6004 press 1, then press 3 for Narcotics. Leave your tip on the recording with the information you want to provide. All information remains confidential. When leaving a drug tip, please advise the exact address or the best possible location you can with as much information as possible. Leave your phone number if you wish, and our narcotics officers will reach out to you as soon as possible.

Submit a crime tip:

Call (423) 623-6004 Press 1, then press 2 for the criminal investigation division. Leave your tip on the recording with the information you want to provide. All information remains confidential. When leaving a tip, please advise the exact address or the best possible location you can with as much information as possible. Leave your phone number if you wish, and our CID investigators will reach out to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for contacting the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office. We are looking forward to assisting you in a professional way and treating you and your family with great respect.

Sheriff CJ. Ball

Contact us:

Sheriff’s Office:

111 Court Avenue

Newport, Tn 37821

(423) 623-6004

Fax (423) 623-4523

Detention Center:

358 East Main Street

Newport, Tn 37821

(423) 623-9043

(423) 613-9128

Hours:

Monday through Friday

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturday

8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Closed on Sunday