Historical Information
and Photos

Present and Past
Chief's of Police

Chief Mickey Miller
2010-

Chief Terry S. Frizzell
2007-2010
Chief David L. Key
1979-2007
Chief Walter G. Toon
1973-1979
Chief Henry M. Heer
1971-1973





Most of the images below have larger versions, click on an image to see a larger version.


Prior to 1971

June 11th, 1968 Referendum is passed to incorporate the city of Hendersonville.


July 26th, 1969 City of Hendersonville incorporated.


July 1969 - July 1971 During the first two years of the cities incorporation, police and fire protection was based on a subscription service under Chief George Thompson.



1971

July 1st, 1971 The first city run police force is created and was known as Hendersonville Public Safety Department. It was located at 112 Shivel Dr. and ran by Chief Henry M. Heer who had retired from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.


The original Hendersonville Public Safety Department shoulder patch was designed by Chief Heer and was modeled after the Tennessee Highway Patrol patch.


First City budget for the Police Department.
July 7th 1971
Mayor L.H Hewman poses with the new Hendersonville Public Safety Department.
Left to Right: Eugene T. Johnson; Chief Henry M. Heer; Mayor Newman; H.E. Basore; Freddie Watson.

Parts taken from Media Release July 8th 1971:

Hendersonville Police Department On Duty

It was announced this week by City Manager Sam Walton, that Hendersonville's new Police Department went into active duty July 1, 1971. The police force of the City of Hendersonville is composed of four men, who are headquartered at 112 Shevel Drive. Henry M. Heer has been named chief, and Eugene T. Johnson, H. E. Basore and Freddie Watson patrolmen. The Police station is in the rear of a former residence.

The force is composed of all experienced men in police work. Chief Heer is a native of Nashville, where he attended schools and graduated from Hume-Fog High. On April 1 he retired from the State High-way Patrol after 29 years of service.

Eugene T. Johnson, patrolman, is also a Native of Nashville. He was with the Metro police department for 20 years before retiring in '67. He attended Castle Heights Military Academy and the University of Tennessee. He is a member of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Tennessee and Mississippi Peace Officers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.

Patrolman H.E. Basore was born and reared in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was an officer in Hagerstown for four years. Also he only recently left the Gallatin Police Department. Basore is a graduate of Hagerstown High, and is now taking a course through La Salle Extension University.

Freddie Watson, who many Hendersonvillians will remember was previously with the Hendersonville Private police department under Chief George Thompson, was born and reared in Davidson County. He attended Madison High. For the past eight years he has lived in and around Hendersonville.


Early Police Report
Crash report taken by chief Heer Sept. 8th 1971.

1972


April 6th 1972
Additional City Police were added.
Left to Right:Tom Borden, Ray Corbitt, Barry McCord, Larry Leath.
This brought the total number of City officers to 9.
Early 1972
An HPD officer works a crash. One of the early police cars can be seen in the background.

In September of 1972 the city took over the previous Thompson building on Sanders Ferry road.
This building became the location of the Police and Fire Station.


On December 14th, 1972 Sergeant Basore notified the commission that 5 people had died on Hendersonville Roads in the past year. He recommended a lowering of the speed limits to increase public safety.


Mid 1970's

Officer with children.
Officer with SpeedGun.


Hendersonville Police Boat.
Officer with a Detective.

1976


March 1976
Hendersonville PD get new Police cars.

March 1976
NEW POLICE CARS — Officer Larry Hitt and Sgt. Earl Moore stand beside two of the six new police cars. The new cars will be sporting a red and blue stripe in honor of America's Bicentennial celebration. The cars should be on the road sometime this week said Lt. David Key of the Hendersonville Police Dept.


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Some images and articles courtesy of Hendersonville Star News.

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