White Pine Police Department

08/26/2026

This dog is in the shell way area !
Contact WPPD if you know the owner.

08/26/2026

08/18/2026

08/17/2026

PLEASE HELP US LOCATE BILLY HOLLIFIELD

The White Pine Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Billy Hollifield, age 63, and making sure he is safe.

At this time, no official missing person report has been filed. However, we have been contacted by several people who are concerned because Billy has not been seen in the last couple of days.

Billy is well known around White Pine and frequently walks around town, especially in the State Street area, and it is unusual for him not to be seen.

If you have seen Billy recently or know where he may be, please contact the White Pine Police Department at 865-674-2555 so we can check on him and make sure he is okay.

Please share this post and help us get the word out.

08/07/2026

Today, Sgt. Aaron Guinn and Sgt. Eric Ramsey had the privilege of conducting Active Shooter Response and Site Security Planning training for approximately 20 participants from Freedom Fellowship Church, including church leadership, security team members, principals, and teachers from the church’s school.

The training focused on active shooter response, emergency decision-making, identifying security vulnerabilities, and developing a site-specific security plan designed to enhance the safety and security of both the church and its school.

We commend Freedom Fellowship Church for taking a proactive approach to protecting its congregation, students, staff, and visitors. Investing in training and planning today helps ensure everyone is better prepared should an emergency ever arise.

The White Pine Police Department is proud to partner with organizations that are committed to making safety a priority.

Thank you to Freedom Fellowship Church for the opportunity to be a part of this important training.

08/05/2026

I’m excited to begin my second year as the School Resource Officer at Lakeway Christian Academy. I’ve proudly served as a police officer for the past five years and have also served in the Tennessee National Guard for four years.

I’m married with two kids, and when I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and hunting. I became a police officer because I wanted to make a positive impact in my community and help others whenever I can. I’m honored to serve the students, families, and staff at Lakeway Christian Academy, and I’m looking forward to another great year of building relationships, mentoring students, and helping keep our campus safe.

-Officer Garrett English

08/04/2026

Sitting on the beach today has given me a chance to slow down and reflect on the path that has brought me here.

This year marks 29 years in law enforcement and 30 years in the fire service, with 17 of those years serving as Fire Chief. Looking back, I realize this career has never been about a paycheck or a title. It’s been about serving the community where I was born and raised. I could have chosen to work elsewhere, but my heart has always been here. I wanted to make a difference in the place I call home.

Along the way, there have been sacrifices. I’ve missed family events, holidays, birthdays, and sleep. I’ve lost friendships over difficult decisions. I’ve been criticized for doing what I believed was right. But if I had to do it all over again, I would.

What weighs on me the most today isn’t the long hours or the difficult calls. It’s the amount of division and negativity we see every day. It seems like we’ve forgotten how to simply have a conversation.

Somewhere along the way, disagreeing with someone became a reason to attack them instead of listening to them. We’ve reached a point where people feel they have to pick a side and fight, instead of finding common ground. Whether it’s politics, public safety, Flock cameras, or any other issue, it’s okay to have different opinions. In fact, healthy discussions make communities stronger. But personal attacks, assumptions, and tearing each other down don’t solve anything.

As your Chief of Police, I will never ask everyone to agree with every decision we make. That’s not realistic, and that’s not how a free society works. What I do ask is that we treat each other with respect. Ask questions. Listen. Have conversations. Extend grace. You may be surprised at what you learn from someone who sees things differently.

I will continue to stand up for what I believe is right. I will continue to defend this community, this profession, and the men and women who put on the badge every day. They don’t do this job for recognition or praise. They do it because they genuinely care about the people they serve, even when it’s a thankless profession.

White Pine is more than a town to me. It’s home. I love this community, and I believe we are better than the negativity that often fills our social media feeds. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we can choose to respect one another, show compassion, and remember that we’re all neighbors at the end of the day.

If my nearly three decades of public service have taught me anything, it’s this: kindness is never weakness, respect costs nothing, and a community that works together will always be stronger than one that’s divided.

I still believe in White Pine. I still believe in the people who call it home. And I’ll continue doing everything I can to serve this community with integrity, compassion, and pride.

— Chief Chad Cotter

07/24/2026

*UPDATE* The child’s parents have been located. The address is out in the county and the investigation has been turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office. We thank our community for assisting with this situation.

FOUND CHILD

The White Pine Police Department is attempting to locate the parent or guardian of this young child, who was found in a yard on Walnut Street, across from Countryside Mobile Home Park.

If you recognize this child or know how to contact the child’s parent or guardian, please call the Jefferson County E-911 Non-Emergency Dispatch Center at 865-674-2555 immediately.

Please help us reunite this child with their family by sharing this post. Thank you for your assistance.

07/21/2026

The White Pine Police Department is proud to announce that Officer Chris Edmonds has successfully completed the Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certification course offered through the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO). This specialized training allows Officer Edmonds to properly inspect and install child safety seats to help ensure children are traveling as safely as possible.

Thanks to this program, the White Pine Police Department has also received a supply of child car seats and booster seats that are available for families who are truly in need. If you are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance obtaining a child safety seat, please contact us to see if you qualify.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to:
1. Have a child safety seat professionally installed.
2. Have your current car seat inspected to ensure it is installed correctly.
3. Ask questions about child passenger safety.

Please contact the White Pine Police Department at (865) 674-7771 or email Officer Chris Edmonds at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

We are grateful to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office for providing this valuable training and these life-saving resources. Together, we can help keep the children in our community safe every time they ride.