Two provisional assistant chiefs were assigned by Deputy Chief Keith Lowery to provide oversight and delegation of duties in temporary positions at the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Chief Lowery became the top administrator at the Sheriff's Office after Friday's retirement of Chief Deputy Randy Garrett.

Chief Lowery is now responsible for managing 14 divisions and about 500 fulltime and part-time employees. He appointed Majors Egon Grissom and Bill Sharp to help him take on the magnitude and complexity for operating the Sheriff's Office while waiting for the naming of an interim sheriff.

Assistant Chief Grissom will supervise the Patrol, Transport, Courthouse Security, School Resource Officers and Warrants divisions. Assistant Chief Bill Sharp will supervise the Criminal Investigations and Narcotics Divisions and the Adult Detention Center. They will report to Deputy Chief Lowery.

Deputy Chief Lowery will retain direct command of the Office of Professional Responsibility, Communications, Information Systems, Administration, Fleet Management and Community Services Unit.

"I will use the assistants to help in daily operations and processes during this time of change where we will begin to redirect our focus and rebuild the integrity of the agency," Deputy Chief Lowery said.

Grissom has a long career working with patrol and narcotics in the agency and has the ability to provide leadership in the areas. Sharp also has a lengthy career within the agency and currently serves as the commander of the investigations and narcotics units. He has served with dedication and commitment.

Sharp was previously disciplined for using county e-mail to contact other law enforcement agencies for training through his private company.

"At the time of this incident, I was serving as assistant chief at La Vergne Police Department," Chief Lowery said. "I have been informed this was resolved. I am confident Bill has viewed this as a learning experience and moved on.

"During the past year when I returned to the Sheriff's Office, both Bill and Egon have served in an exemplary fashion and neither has given me a moment of pause to question their leadership abilities," Deputy Chief Lowery said.

The positions do not include a raise but allow for oversight and delegation of new responsibilities so Chief Lowery can focus on running the agency and resolve some critical issues.

They, like Chief Lowery, who is not changing his title, are voluntarily taking on more responsibilities without additional pay.

"I do not want people who are blindly loyal to me," Chief Lowery said. "What we need as a county are people who are loyally devoted to performing their job and upholding their oath to the citizens. I believe Assistant Chiefs Grissom and Sharp will fulfill these duties."