The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) has permanently appointed retired Federal Judge Bruce Guyton to the pivotal role of Deputy Chief of Professional Standards, a position he has occupied on an interim basis since July last year. The news broke on Thursday with officials touting Guyton's experience and commitment to excellence as a match made for the task at hand.
In an unequivocal endorsement of Guyton's appointment, KPD Chief Paul Noel was quoted saying, "I couldn’t be happier to have Judge Guyton as a full-time member of our senior leadership team." Chief Noel, acknowledging Guyton's ability to consistently evaluate and refine department policies, added, "Judge Guyton is thoughtful, measured and consistent. He is a great fit within our department and has proven to be an incredibly valuable member of our team. He also intimately understands his role to evaluate our policies and procedures and lead our efforts to implement the nationally-recognized best practices," as per the official KPD website.
Guyton brings to the table an extensive legal background, having served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee for nearly two decades before retiring in early 2022. Prior to that, he had been a founding partner of the law firm Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC, where he focused significantly on discrimination and employment law.
Expressing his commitment to the KPD and the community, Guyton stated, "I am proud to accept the full-time Deputy Chief of Professional Standards role." He went on to say, "I have enjoyed my time at the Knoxville Police Department and the work that I am doing. I look forward to continuing that work and doing my part to make the KPD the best it can be." Guyton's remarks were sourced from the Knoxville Police Department's official announcement.
The nationwide search for a professional to fill the Deputy Chief role has been ongoing, with Chief Noel remarking, "With Judge Guyton’s help, we conducted a nationwide search for the Deputy Chief of Professional Standards position." However, it was Guyton's proven track record during his tenure as interim that sealed the deal. "As that process played out, it became apparent that Judge Guyton was the right person for the job long term," Noel told the KPD website. "We will benefit tremendously from the time that have Judge Guyton on our staff." The contributions of Guyton's experience and judicial acumen are anticipated to bolster the KPD as it strides into a future defined by adherence to the highest professional standards.
