Smyrna hires retired Chattanooga law enforcement official to be police chief

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·1 min read
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Smyrna hired former Chattanooga Assistant Police Chief Jason Irvin to replace recently retired Police Chief Kevin Arnold, the town announced Tuesday.

“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to serve the citizens of Smyrna and look forward to the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity," Irvin said in a press release from town spokeswoman Heather Kent.

Irvin accepted the job that started Tuesday from Smyrna Town Manager Brian Hercules.

Jason Irvin
Jason Irvin

The chief will provide consultation to the manager, mayor and council about the police department's efforts to increase safety.

“Smyrna is a rapidly growing community,” Hercules said in the press release. “It is essential that we have a police chief dedicated to serving our community with vision. Irvin’s education and experience will allow him to effectively lead our police department and champion our community safety.”

Prior to accepting the Smyrna job, Irvin worked as the Chattanooga assistant police chief from 2017 until his retirement earlier this year, according to the press release.

Irvin had a 25-year career in Chattanooga that included the following:

  • director of training

  • lieutenant in internal affairs;

  • patrol supervisor;

  • sergeant in internal affairs;

  • property crimes investigator;

  • major crimes investigator; school resource officer;

  • and patrolman.

Irvin earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The previous chief served for 15 years. Arnold retired from 33-year law enforcement career that included serving with the Middle Tennessee State University Police Department and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

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This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Former Chattanooga police official Jason Irvin takes Smyrna chief job