Incoming Johnson City Police Chief Karl Turner (left) shakes hands with City Manager Pete Peterson during a press conference on Monday. CONTRIBUTED
City Manager Pete Peterson announced on Monday that Karl Turner, a 27-year veteran of the Johnson City Police Department, has been promoted to chief.
“Chief Turner was chosen from among five excellent candidates,” Peterson said. “But his combination of experience and leadership skills set Chief Turner apart as the frontrunner. I am proud that we had a candidate of his caliber from within our own department.”
Turner’s selection came after an in-depth evaluation process that included an assessment by other police chiefs from across the state, written tests, and interviews.
Chief Turner earned his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University before joining the JCPD in 1991 as a public safety officer.
After rising quickly through the ranks, Chief Turner earned the rank of captain in 2007 and was assigned as watch commander of one of four patrol platoons. In 2012, he was promoted to major, overseeing the operations side of the Police Department and serving an indispensable role in supporting the now retired Chief Mark Sirois.
“I am honored and grateful to have been selected from such a talented pool of law enforcement leaders,” Chief Turner said. “I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with an exceptional group of dedicated and caring law enforcement officers. This includes three former police chiefs whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for. I thank them for their years of guidance and leadership and of course, my wife Dr. Jessica Turner, for the support and sacrifice that goes along with being a law enforcement spouse.”
Chief Turner attended the Southeast Command and Leadership Academy (SECLA) in 2006 where he received the SECLA Distinguished Service Medal. He also completed all three levels of the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Management Academy in 2007, the FBI National Academy in 2009, and FBI’s Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar sessions in 2004 and Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in 2017. He is an active member of the FBI National Academy Alumni Association, the National Tactical Officers Association, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.
