BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James L. Berrong has served as the Sheriff of Blount County for over 35 years. First appointed in 1989, Sheriff Berrong has prioritized public safety in Blount County by deploying tried and true law enforcement strategies. He is deeply committed to the well-being of the men and women of the Blount County Sheriff's Office and ensures that they are outfitted with state-of- the-art equipment and technology to protect and serve the citizens of Blount County.
Sheriff James L. Berrong
Ex Officio Advisor
Jordan Henderson is the current Criminal Justice teacher at William Blount High School. Before entering teaching, Jordan was a police officer for the Knoxville Police Department for seven years; he spent the majority of his career specializing in gangs and violence reduction initiatives. Jordan also served in the Tennessee Air National Guard as a Security Forces member and Combat Arms Instructor for ten years. Jordan is a proud lifelong resident of Blount County.
Jordan Henderson
Chair
Tina Rhea
Vice Chair
Tina Rhea is the owner of REO Cheesewagon, a local cafe that is known for their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, friendly service, and community-driven mission. A proud Blount County native, she has a deep-rooted passion for her community and its people. Tina has built a reputation for service, philanthropy, and leadership. As a proud participant of Leadership Blount, Tina is actively involved in strengthening the community through engagement, volunteerism, and supporting local initiatives. Tina is a committed supporter of law enforcement and first responders in the community.
Tara Rasher
Secretary
Tara Rasher previously worked in the airline cargo industry and upon retirement, she served the company in an admin role. She currently works for the Blount County Sheriff's Office in a part-time administrative capacity. She is an alumni member of the BCSO Citizens Academy and has volunteered with Sheriff Office's Senior Outreach Program. Tara has a passion for helping members of the Blount County Community and has been involved in several non-profit boards and charity fundraisers.
Sheriff Tom Spangler
Treasurer
Tom Spangler is the current Sheriff of Knox County. First elected in 2018, he has decades of experience in law enforcement. He began his career as a Knox County Corrections Officer and has served in numerous roles such as Patrolman, Metro Narcotics Detective, and various supervisory positions. After retiring from the Knox County Sheriff's Office as Chief Deputy, Spangler returned to law enforcement as the Assistant Training Chief for the Blount County Sheriff's Office. He resigned in 2016 to run for Knox County Sheriff.
Chief Deputy Jeff French
Jeff French serves as the Chief Deputy of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career at the BCSO in 1996 as the agency’s Business Manager. In 2004, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Administration. Sheriff Berrong promoted French to be his second in command in 2014. Chief Deputy French graduated from Maryville College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial University. After starting his career with the BCSO, he attended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and was awarded POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification in 2002.
Chief Deputy French lives in Maryville with his wife Julie. They have four children. Chief Deputy French also serves as a deacon at East Maryville Baptist Church.
Chief Roger Robinson (Ret.)
Chief Roger Robinson started his career as a volunteer with the Alcoa Fire Department in 1977 and was hired as a full-time firefighter in 1979. He came up through the ranks of the department and became Deputy Chief in 2003; he was promoted to Chief of the Alcoa Fire Department in 2007 where he served until his retirement in December of 2024. Chief Robinson graduated from Alcoa High School in 1978 and holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science. Chief Robinson is an active member of the Blount County community and serves with several local groups and organizations.
Chris Carter is currently a patrol Sergeant with the Blount County Sheriff's Office. He has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He first went to work for the Knox County Sheriff's Office in 1992. Chris has worked for the Blount County Sheriff's Office since 2014.