Roane County is saying goodbye to one of its most familiar badges. Longtime Roane County Sheriff's Office detective and school resource officer Jon French has died. French, a steady presence in both the criminal investigations division and in local school hallways, died Friday, Feb. 13. He is survived by his son, Alex French, an officer with the Kingston Police Department. The sheriff's office has asked for privacy for the family as colleagues, former students, and neighbors share condolences.
Roane County Sheriff's Office Shares The News
In a public statement on its Facebook page, the Roane County Sheriff's Office wrote, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the French family tonight." The post identified French as both a detective and a school resource officer and thanked him for his years of service to the community. The department did not share a cause of death or provide details about funeral services.
Decades Of Local Service And A Policing Family
The same Roane County Sheriff's Office post noted that French "was instrumental in developing several CID members," highlighting his role in mentoring younger investigators inside the criminal investigations division. It also said he served under former Sheriff David Haggard and current Sheriff Jack Stockton, reflecting decades of local experience in the department.
Memorial coverage of former Sheriff Haggard has documented his long tenure in Roane County law enforcement, as reported by 3B Media News, and the Roane County Sheriff's Office lists Jack Stockton as the current sheriff. Fellow officers and regional law enforcement agencies responded to the announcement about French with public messages of sympathy.
School Resource Officer Role In Roane County
French's work as a school resource officer put him at the center of daily life in Roane County schools, where SROs are part of a broader school safety push supported by Tennessee's statewide SRO grant and training program. The Tennessee Department of Safety outlines that grant program, and the training standards for officers assigned to campuses, and Roane County Schools has publicly highlighted its SRO leadership in recent years. French's dual role as an investigator and school-based mentor underscores how visible he was to students and families, not just to those who crossed paths with him in criminal cases.
What We Know So Far
The sheriff's office has not released a cause of death or information about funeral arrangements in its Facebook announcement, and no official schedule has been made public. For formal inquiries, the Roane County Sheriff's Office website includes contact information for the agency. This story will be updated if the department or the family releases additional details.
