Steve Lawson
After completing nearly a four-year tenure as the director of the 10th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Steve Lawson will be "coming home to the sheriff's Office" effective Sept. 1 to, once again, head up the Criminal Investigations Division, Sheriff-Elect Eric Watson said.
"I have worked closely with Steve over the years, and I have always been very impressed by his professional approach to criminal investigations.
The perfect state audit recently received by Steve and the local DTF underscores my belief Steve Lawson is the best person to fill the post of CID Captain. I feel fortunate he has chosen to be a part of my new administration," the new sheriff stated.
Sheriff-Elect Watson chose Lt. Keith Edwards as captain of patrol services and Arnold Botts as director of administration.
Mr. Lawson began his service with the sheriff's office in 1976. He quickly moved up through the ranks as a patrol deputy, detective, and supervisor in both the Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions in subsequent years, receiving a promotion to Captain of CID in 1987.
Mr. Lawson took a break from law enforcement from 1988 to 2006 while working for Bowater, Inc. But his interest in criminal investigation and his love of law enforcement lead him back to BCSO in 2006 when he was, once again, asked to become captain and head up the CID. Lawson remained with the sheriff’s office until 2010 when he was selected to become the 10th Judicial DTF Director, the post he currently holds.
A lifelong resident of Bradley County, Mr. Lawson attended Charleston and Michigan Avenue Elementary Schools, and is a graduate of Bradley Central High School. He has studied Criminal Justice at Cleveland State Community College, and he is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy located in Donelson, Tennessee, as well as the Cleveland State Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy. He and his family also attends Mt. Olive Church of God.
In addition to the two basic academies and Criminal Investigators School, Mr. Lawson has attended numerous specialized law enforcement schools over the years. His specialized training has included the following: Major Case Investigations, Narcotics and Drug Trafficking, Homicide, Auto Theft, Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement, F.B.I. Fingerprint Training, and many more.
In addition, Mr. Lawson is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development School, the Law Enforcement Management and Administration School, and he has attended annual Drug Task Force Administration Practices Training as the director of the DTF.
Sheriff-Elect Watson said, "Director Lawson was an extremely effective and popular CID Captain in the past, heading up just about every type of criminal investigation there is, and he is certainly well-familiar with the people and operations of the Criminal Investigations Division.
“There is no doubt about his qualifications to perform this critically important job since he has done it successfully before. I am very pleased to have a person of Steve's caliber as a member of my leadership team."
Mr. Lawson stated, "I have thoroughly enjoyed my service to the 10th Judicial Drug and Violent Crime Task Force over the past four years. I have had the honor of working with some of the finest officers I have ever known. I am sure their success will continue.
"But my heart is, and always has been, in the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, even during the years I was away from it. I appreciate the invitation from Sheriff-Elect Watson to come back to the department and head up CID."
Mr. Lawson is married to Connie Lawson and has three children, Stephen, Dustin and Chase.