The mission of the Jonesborough Department of Public Safety is to ensure a safe and secure environment in Jonesborough for all persons by providing professional law enforcement and fire protection through responsive, courteous, caring, and dedicated service while practicing our core values of integrity, respect and fairness.
Dial 911 for Emergencies
Contact
| Craig Ford | Public Safety Director | 423.753.1030 |
| Matt Rice | Interim Chief of Police | 423.753.1053 |
Matt Rice
Interim Chief of Police
Town of Jonesborough, TennesseeMatt Rice, the Town of Jonesborough Interim Police Chief, was appointed by the Board of Mayor and Alderman in April of 2022. Chief Rice joined the Jonesborough Police Department in July of 2004 as Operations Major. He brings with him over three decades of experience in all aspects of Law Enforcement including Operations, Administration, and Criminal Investigations. The Chief of Police serves on a number of Professional Boards and Community Organizations. He is responsible for the daily operation of the Police Department.
Major Dennis Higgins is second in command and serves as the Operations Major and Criminal Investigations Commander.
Additionally, there is an Administrative Major. Major Jamie Aistrop is responsible for Municipal Code Enforcement, Property and Evidence, Police Records, and Police Communications.
Chief Rice, Major Higgins, and Major Aistrop can be reached by calling 423-753-1053
Personnel
The Jonesborough Police Department consists of nineteen (19) sworn officers, all of which are certified through the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission. Daily operations are directed by Police Chief Matt Rice, who directs two Police Majors and four Patrol Sergeants supervising four, three-person patrol shifts. The department has oone Criminal Investigator Lieutenant rather than Sergeant.
Click HERE for Frequent Violations. All sworn police personnel are Public Safety Officers (PSOs) and are cross-trained as firefighters in addition to police academy training. PSOs respond to all fires within the Town’s corporate limits as needed to assist the Fire Division in suppression efforts.
PSO/Training
All Jonesborough Police Officers are required to be trained as firefighters in addition to their police training. Officers carry firefighting gear and first responder firefighting equipment in their police vehicles. In addition to their on-going fire training, officers are required to successfully complete a minimum 40 hours of state approved in-service training each year in order to maintain their police certification.
Municipal Code
The Town of Jonesborough collects and administrates town ordinances, which govern various aspects of the town operations, as part of the Jonesborough Municipal Code. Copies of the code are available for inspection or review during normal business hours 8 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday, at Town Hall, 123 Boone Street in Jonesborough.
Records
The Records Office is open during normal business hours 8 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday at Town Hall, 123 Boone Street in Jonesborough. In an effort to better serve our residents, incident reports and accident reports are mailed to the victims of crime or to individuals involved in accidents. Reports are also mailed to property owners who sustain damage to their property as a result of an accident.
The Records Custodian is responsible for entering incident reports filed by the PSOs in the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS). These reports are forwarded to the TBI on a weekly basis and are used to track crime within our corporate limits.
If an individual wishes to obtain a copy of their report, they should contact the Administrative Assistant at 423.753.1073 in order to ensure the report is available for release.
The Records Department also maintains records for the Jonesborough Business Directory. Information regarding this can be found HERE and if you prefer to fill out the form online you can find it HERE.
Dispatchers
Dispatchers answer the phones at Town Hall twenty-four hours/day. Dispatchers are highly trained and certified. After 5 pm, calls to the Water and Wastewater Departments, Animal Control, and Town Administration are also handled by the Dispatchers and they will contact the appropriate town staff as needed for problems such as water or sewer leaks, nuisance animals, dangerous road conditions, fallen trees, etc. Residents should call 9-1-1 in the event of a public safety emergency. However the business line for the Department of Public Safety is 423.753.1053.
The Dispatch Division utilizes modern technology in providing professional service to its citizens. In-coming phone lines are recorded and have immediate play-back capability in the event the Dispatcher cannot understand the caller. The same feature is utilized with all of our communications to PSOs and firefighters.
The Division also utilizes the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) TIES inlet. This system allows the agency to enter and check for missing persons, stolen property, vehicle owner and drivers license information, as well as providing updated information regarding dangerous weather conditions or matters of Homeland Security.
The Dispatch Division utilizes a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) program. The CAD system assists officers being dispatched to a particular location and can warn of certain dangers to the responding officers at specific locations.
The Division also administers the “Are You Okay” program for elderly and house-bound residents of Jonesborough. Elderly individuals who are shut in or live alone and who live within Jonesborough’s corporate limits are eligible to participate in the “Are You Okay” Program. Each person in the program is contacted each day by a Dispatcher. The Dispatcher inquires as to whether the individual is okay. In the event contact cannot be made, an officer is dispatched to make contact with the individual. We keep emergency contact information to notify the proper people if a problem occurs. For more information 423.753.1053
Police Programs
Police K-9 Program
Jonesborough has four K9 teams that are certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association(NAPWDA). Their K-9 vehicles have state-of-the-art equipment designed specifically for proper care and protection of our animals, including an automatic backdoor opener that allows the officer to get assistance from the K-9. We have 3 dogs that are trained in man tracking and narcotics detection, and two dog that is trained in man tracking and explosives detection. All three K9’s are also trained in suspect apprehension and handler protection. Dogs are owned by the Department and the town provides all food and veterinary care. The canine handlers go through an intense certification process and must re-certify annually.
Drug Drop Box
Working in partnership with Olde Towne Pharmacy and the Medicine Shoppe, the Jonesborough Police Department provides a Drug Drop Box as a safe means of disposal for expired, unwanted, and unused medications. The Police Department also conducts Drug Collection Events several times a year with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the ETSU College of Pharmacy. This is part of an ongoing and collaborative effort to restrict the availability of prescription medications within the community by environmentally safe means. You can find this Drop Box at 123 Boone Street in the Town Hall lobby in front of the Dispatch area.
Jonesborough Police Reserves
Jonesborough operates a Police Reserve Program that allows volunteers from the area to provide community service to Jonesborough residents by assisting with the Police Department operation. Police Reserve Officers are selected through a rigorous screening process, and go through much of the same training as regular officers. Some Reserve Officers are police academy trained but it is not a requirement. Reserve officers operate under the direct supervision of one of the regular officers and have limited scope of authority. However, the Reserve Officers are a vital component of Jonesborough’s ability to safely and efficiently carryout a year-round program of festivals and events. Reserve Officer applications and a listing of standards can be obtained from the Public Safety Department.
Bike Patrol
The department maintains two bicycles for police use. The bicycles are primarily used for town special events and parks to ensure a faster response in case of an emergency. Officers are certified and trained to ride in crowds, negotiating obstacles, and in criminal apprehension.
