Police Chief Celebrating 40 Years Of Law Enforcement Service To Cookeville

Cookeville Police Chief Randy Evans has spent more than 40 years serving the Cookeville community.

Evans started with the department in August 1983 and became chief in 2013. Evans said the quality of not only his job, but his life revolves around community and the people he is surrounded by. Evans said his career has been, in a word, blessed.

“Certainly blessed to work in a community and in a city and for a department that puts an emphasis on public safety, and I’ve just had a great opportunity and loved every minute of it,” Evans said.

Evans said throughout his tenure, police work has changed. He said the best piece of advice he could offer someone beginning their law enforcement career would center around the importance of education. He said even tools like math and writing skills are vital in being prepared to be the best officer one can be.

“All those things that you didn’t know that you would ever ever need in school, you do need to do this job,” Evans said. “It’s not just a job, it’s a profession.”

Evans is a native of East Tennessee and moved to Cookeville in 1977 to attend Tennessee Tech. He said he has had opportunities to leave Cookeville for larger departments. Evans said over 40 years, though, this community has become home.

“Even though there may be opportunities out there, you know, then you’ve got a community of this caliber, it becomes more about where you want to live and a quality of life kind of thing versus being able to, whether it’s making more money or having what some people might consider a more prestigious position or job,” Evans said. “To me, it was more about quality of life and living and loving a community.”

He said one of the greatest difference-makers for the Cookeville Police Department has been its ability to get the right people in the building. He said the department is filled with great people who could go anywhere in the country and fit in with any department.

“It’s all about surrounding yourself with smart, capable leaders that can make independent and good decisions,” Evans said. “Obviously, when you have that, that lessens the burden on any leader or senior leader.”