Image Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Tennessee Conservative News [By David Seal] –
Sergeant Joe Friday of Dragnet fame would be proud of Jefferson County, Tennessee Sheriff Jeff Coffey for creating a crime suppression and enforcement unit that is modeled after the best examples from around the nation.
The popular 1960s TV series Dragnet was based on real files from the Los Angeles Police Department which emphasized crime prevention and community policing.
Coffey has a dragnet of his own called the Impact Crime Suppression Unit, a program with the means of concentrating law enforcement resources for a short period of time on specific geographic areas that are known to be criminal hotspots. He relies on the officers in his department, county constables, Jefferson County E-911, and other cooperating agencies that contribute manpower and resources to the effort.
It is a forceful initiative that has the attention of criminals in Jefferson County.
Because of the Impact Unit, emergency calls are noticeably reduced in a specific area after an operation is undertaken because of the presence and visibility of law enforcement activity. The most recent Impact Operation, conducted on July 1st and 2nd, resulted in 200 law enforcement activities that included 22 misdemeanor arrests and 4 felony arrests. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Department made 124 traffic stops, issuing 39 citations which included 3 DUIs.
A critically important partner agency is Jefferson County Emergency Communications 9-1-1. The following comments were made by the 9-1-1 Executive Director for the production of this news report.
“Jefferson County 9-1-1 is proud to partner with Sheriff Coffey and the IMPACT Team in their efforts to improve public safety throughout our community.
During the recent saturation operation, our Communications Center supported 15 deputies by researching and processing records on individuals encountered in targeted high-crime areas. Information developed through this work contributed to several arrests, highlighting the important role our telecommunicators play in supporting law enforcement.
This partnership and teamwork continue to make a positive impact, helping reduce crime and improve the safety of Jefferson County.” – said Justin Crowther, Executive Director, Jefferson County Emergency Communications District
The formation and design of Jefferson County’s Impact program did not emerge spontaneously.
Sheriff Coffey researched crime suppression programs from multiple departments around the country and designed Jefferson County’s program from the best elements that were suited to the local community. The sheriff cites one specific example, a full-time impact program in Oklahoma City.
Coffey describes the local Impact Program in the following exclusive commentary for this article.
“The IMPACT Crime Suppression Unit is a proactive enforcement initiative of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and reducing criminal activity through targeted operations, intelligence-led policing, and high-visibility enforcement. The unit focuses on violent offenders, narcotics trafficking, repeat offenders, wanted persons, illegal firearms, and other crimes that have the greatest impact on the safety and quality of life in Jefferson County.” – said Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey
The Impact Crime Suppression Unit is not the only innovative program undertaken by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. In the fall of 2025, Detective Sergeant Heather Sharpe was assigned as a Forensic Investigator for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. A background story on East Tennessee High Tech Task Force is linked as follows.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Profiling is the most effective way but lucifer’s accursed criminal loving dimmercraps HATE it.