How Hard Is It to Get Special Deputy Commission?

[Guest 270win]

Lambert retains special deputy status » Knoxville News Sentinel

How hard are these cards to come by from county sheriffs or PD's? Are they only good in the county issued or are they good statewide? I have not heard of these being given out in Shelby County to non LEO people. It looks like these cards still exist in some counties and would be a nice way to be able to legally carry at schools and other places you can't carry with a handgun carry permit.

[wcsc12]

Lambert retains special deputy status » Knoxville News Sentinel

How hard are these cards to come by from county sheriffs or PD's? Are they only good in the county issued or are they good statewide? I have not heard of these being given out in Shelby County to non LEO people. It looks like these cards still exist in some counties and would be a nice way to be able to legally carry at schools and other places you can't carry with a handgun carry permit.

I don't know but I would sure like to have one.

[QuietDan]

Lambert retains special deputy status » Knoxville News Sentinel

How hard are these cards to come by from county sheriffs or PD's? Are they only good in the county issued or are they good statewide? I have not heard of these being given out in Shelby County to non LEO people. It looks like these cards still exist in some counties and would be a nice way to be able to legally carry at schools and other places you can't carry with a handgun carry permit.

From the article:

"State law allows sheriffs to issue special deputy cards to qualified people with no criminal history. The law also mandates special deputies have a $50,000 surety bond and qualify annually on a firing range. [sheriffs] can conscript special deputies into service during times of emergency. Before the state adopted handgun carry permits in 1996, special deputy cards were considered a political plum doled out to supporters. But with the advent of handgun carry permits, the special deputy cards lost their allure. Special deputy cards, however, do provide more authority than a handgun carry permit. Holders of special deputy cards can possess a firearm wherever a law enforcement officer can, such as at a public building, public park or state university. Handgun carry permits do not allow the holder to go armed in those areas."

So, what's the name and the political persuasion of YOUR county sheriff? Sounds like knowing that is the first step on the road to Special Deputy.

[JReedEsq]

Greg Lambert actually works as a Court Officer at the City County Building. He's a nice guy but he's never been one to shy away from controversy. You've got to consider the source of this article and the bias behind it.

[UncleJak]

My dad, who lives in Kentucky, has one of these. He is retired law enforcement and made friends with the county sheriff. He "deputized" him when he assisted in an arrest. After that, he got him the card and he had to range qualify. I don't know if they are different there, but it seems like a valuable tool for their sheriffs who often have to respond alone to rural areas. It would be nice to have a little back up. It sounds like Tennessee's cards may not be the same thing.

[Guest drv2fst]

It seems like a neat idea for the Sheriff to have a few armed and qualified citizens scattered around the county that aren't on the payroll for the taxpayers to carry but are available when needed. It might help to trim the budget a bit and keep the office properly staffed as well.

[hornett22]

There you go using that damn logic again.

[Guest drv2fst]

There you go using that damn logic again.

Yep, get's me in trouble more often than not.

[Guest 270win]

Yes, this special deputy deal seems different than our reserve deputies. Reserves in Shelby County do the same amount of training/POST as the full time police.

[oldogy]

It seems like a neat idea for the Sheriff to have a few armed and qualified citizens scattered around the county that aren't on the payroll for the taxpayers to carry but are available when needed. It might help to trim the budget a bit and keep the office properly staffed as well.

As a property tax payer, this makes sense to me. In my younger years I may have applied. But, consider the Sheriff office is political and political strength runs on numbers. Any volunteer back up force would possibly prevent him from increasing his paid staff. Then you have the huge liability issue as a civilian. I just doubt if it is a popular thing in most areas.

oldogy

[MikePapa1]

These used to be fairly common here under Sheriff Vandercook, doled out to those he saw as political supporters or wanted to be. I had one, for example. They were discontinued by Sheriff Barker when he took over and continue to be gone under Sheriff Weatherford. They are viewed as a BIG source of liability for the Sheriff's Office and the county. There remains a Reserve Deputy program but they all must be POST certified.

[JAB]

Greg Lambert actually works as a Court Officer at the City County Building. He's a nice guy but he's never been one to shy away from controversy. You've got to consider the source of this article and the bias behind it.

Unless I am mistaken, the article to which the posted link leads is from 2009 (the byline says April 2, 2009 at midnight.) That means this was before Lambert was a court officer and while he was still a county commissioner, right? That kind of changes the perspective with which I read the article.

[Guest drv2fst]

Yes, this special deputy deal seems different than our reserve deputies. Reserves in Shelby County do the same amount of training/POST as the full time police.

That's an even better idea. Three levels of people to call on. Full-time paid employees handle the day-to-day stuff, well trained reservists come into the scene when more help is needed. If neither of those forces are available in sufficient numbers, fall back to the civilian volunteers with a card.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I guess I'm missing something. Why?

[Makiaveli]

I guess I'm missing something. Why?

I think the main thing would be being able to carry any where a LEO can carry, as opposed to being limited to where you can carry with a HCP.

[Guest drv2fst]

I wonder if this would allow you to buy LEO only stuff. A couple of years ago a SWAT officer demonstrated the recently manufactured version of the full auto HK MP5 he keeps with him. That would be very cool.

[Fallguy]

I think (or thought) there was a difference between a Reserve Deputy and someone with a Special Deputy Card.

To be honest I always thought the Special Deputy card wasn't worth much more than the paper is printed on.

[Guest drv2fst]

To be honest I always thought the Special Deputy card wasn't worth much more than the paper is printed on.

Could come in handy if you forgot to disarm yourself before entering somewhere CC is prohibited

[JayC]

It seems like a neat idea for the Sheriff to have a few armed and qualified citizens scattered around the county that aren't on the payroll for the taxpayers to carry but are available when needed. It might help to trim the budget a bit and keep the office properly staffed as well.

Or even better yet, go back to a nearly all volunteer force and save the tax payers lots and lots of money

[JayC]

I wonder if this would allow you to buy LEO only stuff. A couple of years ago a SWAT officer demonstrated the recently manufactured version of the full auto HK MP5 he keeps with him. That would be very cool.

If I'm not mistaken... full autos after 1986 have to be owned by the department, not by the individual officers... if thats not correct, I'm finding me a reserve deputy program tomorrow

[Just2Honor]

I'm with Fallguy. Seems like the Special Deputy card is like being named a "Kentucky Colonel", etc. Reserve Deputy is like a part-time LEO. On the payroll when needed due to vacancies, sick time, and extra workload like the fair. Same uniform, same equipment, authorized to drive county-owned vechicles just like a regular deputy. Around here they really get a workout during Bonaroo!!

[Fallguy]

Could come in handy if you forgot to disarm yourself before entering somewhere CC is prohibited

I don't think so...

39-17-1350(d) For purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" means a person who is a full-time employee of the state in a position authorized by the laws of this state to carry a firearm and to make arrests for violations of some or all of the laws of this state, or a full-time police officer who has been certified by the peace officer standards and training commission, a vested inmate relations coordinator employed by the department of correction, or a vested correctional officer employed by the department of correction, or a commissioned reserve deputy sheriff as authorized in writing by the sheriff, or a commissioned reserve or auxiliary police officer as authorized in writing by the chief of police.

I don't think just giving someone a card qualifies. Now if you are a commissioned reserve...then that is different.

[MikePapa1]

In addition to Fallguy's comment, the LE exception applies only to those LEOs in the line of duty. A Special Deputy would not be entitled to carry unless he could show that he was on duty, conducting police business. As mere spectators in court, LEOs are no more entitled to carry as someone with an HCP.

[BlackHawk93]

As mere spectators in court, LEOs are no more entitled to carry as someone with an HCP.

Unless they are a part of Robert Arnold's "take care of your fellow good ole boy's" club at the RCSO, then they can do whatever they want.

[leroy]

It seems to me that i remember that before the "shall issue" CCW laws came into effect, the sheriff handed out the "special deputy" cards as a way to allow "going armed" in Tennessee. By the way, they were, in fact, passed out to brother political supporters.

leroy