The Hendersonville Police Department has garnered top honors with the 2025 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, in recognition of their steadfast support to staff members serving in the National Guard and Reserves. The accolade, revered as the Department of Defense's most prestigious employer commendation, was presented during a ceremonial event at Hendersonville City Hall last Friday.
Endorsed by Capt. Andrew Dillehay of Nashville's 304th Military Police Battalion—a reservist and Hendersonville police officer since 2020—the police department stood out for its robust backing of military personnel and their kin, Dillehay, having commended the constant assurance provided by his superiors and the personal attention his family received from the Chief of Police while he was deployed, Dillehay told the Tennessee Military Department.
The department, which hosts a workforce comprising over 135 officers, claims 15 reserve component service members among its ranks, including individuals from the Tennessee Army and Air National Guardsmen, as well as veterans. This year's competition saw more than 1,600 nominations from across the United States and its territories, with the Hendersonville Police Department emerging among the 15 distinguished awardees, of which only five hail from the public sector.
The award was conferred to Chief James Jones, representing the Hendersonville Police Department by, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, with the ceremony marking one of several instances where the department's dedication to military employees has been officially acknowledged, having previously been nominated for the Public Sector Freedom Award in 2010, it also secured the Extraordinary Employer Support Award in 2021, from the ESGR.
During the award presentation, Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee's Adjutant General, remarked on the integral role played by such collaborative efforts between military and civil services. "Without organizations and departments such as this, our military would not be as successful as we are," Ross said. "It takes partnerships, support, and being able to all work together to keep Americans safe," in a statement obtained by the Tennessee Military Department.
