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Law Enforcement - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

Militia

Those acts once affecting Johnson County, which related to the militia and to other law enforcement agencies other than the sheriff, are mentioned below in chronological order. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 21, divided the state into militia companies, battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions, and prescribed the times and modes of electing officers. The militia of Johnson County composed the first regiment of the first brigade of the first division.
  2. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 157, was an overall militia law for the state. The act placed the militia of Johnson County in the first brigade and set the time for holding regimental musters on the first Friday and Saturday in September. This act was repealed by Public Acts of 1978, Chapter 595.
  3. Acts of 1839-40, Chapter 56, was an overall militia law for the state. The militia of Johnson County composed the first regiment of the first brigade of the first division, and held regimental musters on the Thursday preceding the first Monday in October.
  4. Private Acts of 1861, Chapter 1, was an overall militia law for the state. The militia of Johnson County composed the first regiment of the first brigade and held regimental musters on the Thursday preceding the first Monday in October.

Sheriff

The following acts have no current effect but are included here for reference purposes since they once applied to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

  1. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 203, legalized the acts of Alfred T. Wilson of Johnson County in assuming to perform the duties of constable of said county, as if the said Wilson had been lawfully elected and qualified as constable of Johnson County.
  2. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 741, provided that the sheriff would be paid $750 on January 1st and July 1st of each year. This was amended by Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 102, to increase that amount to $1,500 semi-annually, and amended again by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 395, to provide that the sheriff's salary would be $1,500 in addition to all the fees of the office.
  3. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 354, provided that the sheriff of Johnson County was to be paid in quarterly installments by the Johnson County Trustee on warrants of the chairman of the county court issued on order of the quarterly county court at their regular session in each year.
  4. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 536, required all sheriffs, constables, and police officers in Johnson County to search for, seize and capture all illicit distilleries, stills and all parts, equipment and fixtures used in the manufacture of intoxicating liquors.
  5. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 186, authorized the Johnson County Quarterly County Court to set the salary of the Johnson County Sheriff at not more than $3,600 per annum and authorized him to employ not more than five deputies sheriff at an annual salary not to exceed $1,500 per annum.