After more than three decades of law enforcement in Locust Grove, Jesse Patton looks back on his career in the city with a sense of belonging.

  “This place has been my home,” said Patton. “This is where I’ve spent my whole adult life. It’s very dear to my heart. It’s been a very difficult decision to retire, but I just felt like it was time.”

  Patton, 53, retired from the Locust Grove Police Department on January 29 after more than 32 years of service — including the last 20 as chief.

  He began his law-enforcement career on December 1, 1985 at the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee. There, Patton worked as a jailer, dispatcher and a deputy on the road.

  Patton said a history of police work among members of his family led him to follow their example.

  “My brother was in law enforcement, and I had an uncle who was also in law enforcement,” said Patton, 53, of Locust Grove. “It was just the path that I had chosen based on watching my brother in it. I decided that was the path I wanted to go down and be involved in.”

  Patton has lived in Henry County since 1988 and currently resides in Locust Grove. He first worked in the city as a patrolman before ascending the ranks as a sergeant and then a captain. Patton took over as chief of Locust Grove Police on January 1, 2000.

  For Patton, running a police department was always his primary objective.

  “That was my goal from the onset in law enforcement,” said Patton. “I wanted to do the whole gamut of law enforcement so that when I became chief, I would be well rounded and know what needed to be done. I had the opportunity to work around three chiefs when I was coming up and when the opportunity [to become chief] came around, I decided to go for it.”

  Patton said when he first came to Locust Grove, the city’s population stood at approximately 2,000 residents, compared with more than 9,000 people who now call it home. What was once a two-square-mile city, he said, now spans 18 square miles.

  Patton said Locust Grove Police has experienced similar growth in the last 20 years.

  “When I came here, there were six officers,” he said. “Now it’s 24 sworn officers and six non-sworn — clerical and administrative. I enjoyed seeing the department grow from not having much of anything to having different programs for community-oriented policing, K-9, traffic divisions, investigations, crime scene, and our own training department. Also seeing our facilities grow from one room in City Hall to this wonderful facility we have now.

  “We are a small department, and we keep the family atmosphere,” he continued. “We’re with our work family more than we are with our family at home. They give me 100 percent, and I give them 100 percent back.”

  Patton said as Locust Grove has continued to grow in recent years, keeping crime statistics down has become more of a challenge.

  “It’s harder to get to calls because of the increase in traffic, and also an increase in crime because of population growth,” said Patton. When asked to describe a typical day at Locust Grove Police, he quickly acknowledged that no such day exists.

  Still, he credited his former co-workers for everything they’ve done to make the department run smoothly.

  “I have been blessed throughout my years to have some of the best people to work with, from officers to administrative staff,” said Patton. I can’t say enough. They deserve the credit for making me look good.”

  As he recounted the highs and lows of the last two decades, Patton was saddened to recall a trio of losses since he became the police chief.

The first of those occurred when Officer Gene Reinhardt passed away in 2012. The following year, Assistant Chief Ken Swanson — whom Patton called his best friend — died of cancer. Locust Grove Police Officer Chase Maddox was killed in the line of duty in 2018.

  In addition to his law-enforcement accomplishments, Patton has also coached local baseball and recreational programs over the years. He expressed his gratitude for the support of local residents and government leaders during his time as the police chief.

  “I’ve always believed in giving back to the community, and the people in the community have seen that and have supported me 100 percent,” said Patton. “I’ve been blessed throughout the years to have some wonderful city council members, and I’ve worked with three mayors now. They’ve always bent over backwards to give us what we need. It’s a team effort — from the top to the bottom — working with everybody in the city and the department.”

Patton and his wife Lisa have two children — Teia Whatley, 30, and Joshua Patton, 25 — and five grandchildren. The former chief said he is grateful for his family’s support of his career in law enforcement.

  “None of what I have achieved would have been possible without — first — God, and of course my family,” he said. “Bless my poor family’s heart for my always being in law enforcement. They’ve had to endure a lot.”

  Patton said he has been fortunate, as police chief to work with “three wonderful mayors” in Locust Grove: Jerry Elkins, Lorene Lindsey and the current Mayor Robert Price.

  Price reciprocated by voicing praise for Patton’s achievements at the police department.

  “His reputation is well above everyone,” said Price. “He’s led his department with professsionalism and dignity.  He kept us in line with good officers — well-trained officers. We never doubted anything that he did. With his leadership and the leadership of the council, we had the best equipment in the county. Every officer, we made it safe for them.”

  Patton said the next phase of his work life will take him “totally out of law enforcement.” The transition, he said, will enable him to work with less stress and spend more time with his family.

  “I’m actually taking a position as a supervisor of park rangers in Forsyth County,” said Patton. “I’ve been in law enforcement 30-plus years, and I’ve accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.”

  City leaders have yet to announce a new chief for the police department. Still, Patton offered words of advice for his unknown successor.

  “Make sure you involve your community in everything you do,” said Patton. “Make sure that you involve your department in decisions that you make. Make sure you involve and keep your city management, mayor and council involved — keep their support and involve them in decisions within your department.

  “It has to be done through teamwork,” he added. “When you’re managing a department this small, teamwork is even more important. Don’t take everything on yourself. Don’t burn yourself with the idea that you have to do everything yourself. Allow others to be involved in the plusses and the minuses.”