Signs located all over Sevier County gives a strong indication that Dean Lewis, a Sevierville native who is married to Linda McMahan, with four children and four grandsons is very serious about running for Sheriff.
Lewis is a member of Richardson’s Cove Baptist Church, Fraternal Order of Police and American Legion.He graduated Gatlinburg-Pittman in 1967 and attended Draughon’s Business College in Nashville. He left to enlist in the Air Force, where he served in the 701st Air Defense Group.
When he returned home in 1972 he joined the Gatlinburg Police Department as a sworn officer and dispatcher. In late 1973 he resigned to take a patrol job with the Lauderdale Lakes Police Department in Florida.
In May 1975 he returned to Gatlinburg Police Department as a patrolman. He was later promoted to road sergeant, then a K-9 officer. He was a member of the Volunteers in the Park-Great Smoky Mountains, helping find lost hikers.
Lewis has received training from several agencies, including Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, U.S. Attorney’s Office-Eastern District, U.S. Marshal’s Office Service, FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Walters State, Cleveland State, Knoxville Police Department, UT, Edelheim Police Canine Academy (Kokomo, Ind.), Smith & Wesson Training Academy and yearly training for recertification with the Gatlinburg Police Department
In 2003 he joined the Sevier County Court System as a judicial commissioner, where he is still employed.
“I am excited about this opportunity to seek the office of Sevier County Sheriff,” Lewis said. “I have always held this office in great esteem during my law enforcement career. I will be actively campaigning, and I hope to speak personally with as many Sevier County citizens as possible.”
Lewis said he would serve “with honor and integrity. I plan to be accessible to the public no matter how big or small a problem might be.
“Sevier County, like the rest of this nation, is facing critical times ahead. We are growing and becoming more diverse. There are new issues that Sevier County has not been faced with in years past. We must be quickly prepared for these changing times and not be caught uninformed and unprepared, or uneducated,” he said.
Issues he cited include terrorism, chemical weapons, drugs, and safe schools, roadways, waterways and airways.
“I am glad that I have had a good working relationship with other law enforcement agencies and feel that my background in law enforcement will benefit all Sevier County citizens,” Lewis said.

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