The Tennessee Police Benevolent Association has announced its endorsement of Virgil Gammon, former Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy and Republican candidate for Rutherford County Sheriff.

In a letter to Gammon, Tennessee Division President Johnny Bohanan said, “We will ask our members, their friends and families, and all citizens who respect the strong and efficient enforcement of our laws to cast their ballots in the upcoming election in your favor.”

Known as “The Voice of Law Enforcement Officers,” The Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc. is composed of more than 60,000 law enforcement officers employed by federal, state, county and municipal governments. This professional association, funded by membership dues and citizen contributions, provides legal, disciplinary and other representation to officers who are members.

“As a law enforcement leader of over four decades, I’m honored to have the endorsement from the brave men and women of the Police Benevolent Association,” Gammon said. “During both my tenure as chief deputy of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and during my time as a county commissioner serving as vice-chairman of public safety, I’ve been a champion for our deputies as we pursue the mission of keeping violent criminals and drug dealers off our streets and our county safe all while fighting for the needs of our brave deputies—I’ll continue that fight as sheriff. As Rutherford County’s next sheriff, it’s time to restore morale, offer proper training and provide state-of-the art equipment to retain and recruit the finest personnel to restore to the taxpayers a professional, efficient sheriff’s office that they can not only trust, but also be proud of.”

Gammon, who retired from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office as chief deputy, is also a U.S. Army and Tennessee National Guard veteran and a Rutherford County commissioner; his commission term ends August 2022.