I would like to recognize a few people. I had the privilege to work with each person discussed below; each was the first African American to serve in their respective positions.
These men deserve our thanks for their outstanding service and for opening the door for many more fine officers who followed their leadership.
Claude Isaiah Johnson was a State Trooper, Special Agent, and Special Agent in Charge for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He was stationed in Memphis.
Mark Gwynn served as Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory. He left that position to become the Director of the entire TBI.
Tyreece Miller is the United States Marshall for the Western District of Tennessee.
Dennis Cheairs served as Director of the 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Melvin Bond served as Sheriff of Haywood County, Tennessee.
David Woolfork served as Sheriff of Madison County, Tennessee, for 20 years; the longest anyone has held that office in Madison County.
Finally, I want to mention former Hardeman County Sheriff Delphus Hicks. He was the first African American elected to the office of Sheriff in the history of Tennessee. I was assigned to Hardeman County as a TBI Special Agent the day he was sworn in for his first term in 1978. It was the beginning of a great working relationship. It was also the beginning of a lifelong friendship that I cherish to this day. We were all a little better for having worked with him.
Jim Leach is a career law enforcement officer and author. His books can be found at booksbyleach.com.
