After dedicating over three decades of his life to law enforcement and public safety, Captain Sammy Shaffer will be hanging up his KPD badge for the last time this Halloween. His departure marks the end of a notable career spanning a breadth of roles within the Knoxville Police Department, from firefighter to Training Director to commander.
On Thursday, the KPD held a ceremony to both acknowledge Captain Shaffer's contributions and to express their sentiments about his retirement, which he was offered and accepted a new role as the Director of Public Safety at McGhee Tyson Airport, according to an announcement on KPD's official website.
According to the Knoxville Police Department, Chief Paul Noel highlighted Shaffer's impactful career by saying, "It’s hard to imagine our department without Sammy," Noel shared. Continuing, "He has embodied what it means to be a Knoxville police officer and has served our department with the pride and professionalism. Like his father before him, Sammy has truly left a lasting imprint on our department." In this vein of legacy, Shaffer's departure opens up a challenging task of finding someone who can fill the position with the same vigor and dedication.
Shaffer's more recent endeavors involved the command of the Special Services Division of Field Operations, where his oversight of the Real Time Information Center, special event management, and supervision of the department’s special teams played a crucial role. According to the Knoxville Police Department, in the midst of grappling with the reality of filling his absence at the department, Noel is confident in Shaffer's future pursuits, stating, “While we now have the extremely difficult task of filling the void that he will leave in his absence, I am incredibly proud of Sammy and excited for him as he enters this new chapter of his life and career. He has earned this opportunity, and I know that he will continue to be a champion for our department.”
Mayor Indya Kincannon also expressed gratitude towards Shaffer, "For more than two decades Sammy Shaffer has served the people of Knoxville with unwavering dedication,” Kincannon said. Her words echo a collective appreciation found within the city's governance, saying, “I will miss his upbeat, can-do attitude—but I know he will still be serving our region in a different capacity at McGhee Tyson Airport.” The Mayor, along with the KPD, extended good wishes for Captain Shaffer in his forthcoming endeavors. His last day with KPD is slated for October 31.
