Former Knox Co. sheriff eligible for pension, gets new title
The former sheriff of Knox County will be eligible to receive an $80,000 pension after he was transferred to a different chief deputy position.
Tim Hutchison is now a sworn non-merit council assistant chief of administration. He was previously a sworn merit council assistant chief deputy.
He retires next week, on July 1.
The transfer ends the need for litigation over Hutchsion's decertification, according to current Sheriff J.J. Jones.
"It's time to put an end to all these lawsuits which have no impact except to drain taxpayer money from the county," Jones said in a press release.
The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission was scheduled to hear the case over Hutchison's pension eligibility in August.
Attorney Herb Moncier had filed on behalf of former county Commissioner Bee DeSelm to force a hearing on decertifying Hutchison. That would have prevented him receiving a pension.
Four years ago, after Hutchison was convicted by Knox County Chancellor Daryl Fansler of criminal contempt, the POST Commission rejected a bid to decertify him.
Hutchison was convicted after former County Commissioner Wanda Moody and Moncier filed a lawsuit to challenge Hutchison's use of seized drug money to fund construction projects.
The former sheriff was convicted of six counts of criminal contempt for intentionally lying while refusing to turn over documents to Moody and Moncier.
If he had been decertified, Hutchison could have lost his pension, which is scheduled to increase from $20,000 a year to $80,000.
Earlier this year, Hutchison lost his office to term limits but was able to stay on the payroll and qualify for a new pension plan as a chief deputy.
