Image Credit: Knox County Sheriff’s Office & Canva.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Longtime law enforcement officer and former Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler passed away on September 10 at the age of 67 after a years-long battle with cancer, prompting leaders in East Tennessee and across the state to offer their condolences and remember his career accomplishments.
“For more than 33 months, Tom fought pancreatic cancer with the same strength, determination, and grit that defined the way he lived his life,” said former Knox County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kimberly Glenn.
Spangler began his law enforcement career after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1980. Joining the Knox County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer, Spangler rose through the ranks over the next couple of decades, serving as a patrolman, patrol supervisor, Metro Narcotics detective, captain, and chief deputy, a role in which he helped establish the Regional Training Academy and Aviation Unit.
Alongside his career promotions Spangler also became a helicopter pilot, a skill he put to good use in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina by participating in disaster relief missions along the Gulf Coast. In 2007, he briefly served as interim Knox County Sheriff and then retired in 2009 after 29 years with the department.
Despite plans to reportedly pursue professional fishing, Spangler came out of retirement to join the Blount County Sheriff’s Office as assistant chief of training until December 2016 when he decided to run for Knox County Sheriff. Spangler was elected sheriff in 2018 with nearly 65% of the vote and was re-elected to a second term in 2022, often emphasizing the importance of loyalty and public trust.
His tenure as sheriff sparked some controversy, including his handling of Covid restrictions. Spangler focused on preserving individual freedoms, including sending a letter to President Joe Biden stating refusal to comply with the vaccine mandate.
“I took an oath to protect, serve, and enforce the laws which are created by our legislative body. I fulfill this oath daily with honor and integrity, as do the men and women of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. We will not become the mandate police,” he wrote. “We are still the land of the FREE because of the BRAVE. It is my hope that more community leaders will stand against this unconstitutional mandate. I am hopeful they see it for what it is- government overreach.”
In 2020 he was also instrumental in cementing the county’s indefinite participation in the federal 287(g) program to partner with ICE in immigration enforcement. The county first opted into the agreement in 2017 with an annual renewal option. That renewal was extended to every two years, then into a permanent agreement until one of the agencies cancels it.
At the time, Knox was only one of two counties in the state that participated the ICE agreement, and now Knox County Sheriff Brent Gibson is not only continuing that longtime agreement but shifting operations to a more proactive model of the program.
Spangler’s office did face some scrutiny toward the end of his time as sheriff as the department sought to expand the use of automated license plate reader cameras across the county, though the Knox County Commission recently voted to cease using the surveillance technology and remove the cameras.
Upon news of Spangler’s passing, messages of sadness and fond memory came from law enforcement agencies, lawmakers, and loved ones, all expressing gratitude for the former sheriff’s years of dedication and service to his community.
Sheriff Brent Gibson, who was sworn in Sep. 1, issued a statement reading, “His decades of service left a mark on this agency and the people of Knox County. Today, we honor his service to others. On behalf of myself and the entire Knox County Sheriff’s Office, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who served alongside him. Rest well, Sheriff. Your service is complete, your legacy will remain.”
Knox County Mayor Betsey Henderson recalled her warm memories of Spangler, stating he, “dedicated decades of his life to serving and protecting Knox County. Whenever I saw Sheriff Spangler, he greeted me with a smile and a warm embrace… My prayers are with his family and the entire Sheriff’s Office.”
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Knoxville office posted, “District 1 is saddened by the passing of former Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler. We honor his decades of dedicated service to Knox County and our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.”
U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty wrote, “Tom dedicated his life to protecting and serving the Knoxville community, leaving a lasting legacy of public service in East Tennessee. We are keeping his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved Tom in our prayers during this difficult time.”
State Rep. Lowell Russell said, “Tom was an outstanding person that served for all the right reasons. I’m a better person for knowing him.”
Other prominent Tennessee figures and agencies offering praise for Spangler and condolences at news of his passing included Sen. Marsha Blackburn, State Rep. Jason Zachary, the Knoxville Police Department, and Blount County Sheriff Lee Berrong.
“On behalf of Tom’s family, thank you for every prayer, every message, every meal, every act of kindness, and every bit of love and support you have shown Tom and those he loved throughout this journey. They have felt it, and they are incredibly grateful,” said a family spokesperson. “Rest easy, Sheriff. Your watch is over.”
Sources:
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
WBIR.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
WBIR.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
