The McEwen Police Department is located in the west section of the L.H. Winstead Municipal Building. Our department serves a population of 1,720 people and is located in eastern Humphreys County, approximately nine miles east of Waverly, TN. Our department prides itself in being a true "Community Policing Organization". The department is under the direction of Chief John Ethridge, whom is a member of the Tennessee Association of the Chief's of Police. He is also a member of the board of directors of the 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force. Our department has an approved records system, which includes a complete computer system to manage police records and the McEwen Municipal Court.

      Our police department is comprised four full-time police officers and two part-time police officers. Currently the Patrolmen are Tony Ahne, Ashley Moore, Jason Palmateer, Jeff Rye, and Joe Smith. Clyde T. Lucas, Jr. and Norman Yates served for many years as Reserve Police Officers for the City. Both of these gentlemen are now retired. Larry J. Tidewell, a Reserve Police Officer for the City, was killed in an automobile accident while on duty on August 2, 1983. Each officer is required to attend an in-service training session. This training includes both classroom and firearms training. Every full-time Patrolman is required to complete a criminal investigation school.

       We just recently hired Jason Palmateer as an Officer for the City. He graduated from Cleveland State Community College's Law Enforcement Program and received his certification from the state in June of 2000. Ashley Moore began work for us in January and will complete his Basic Police School at the Donelson Police Academy on August 25, 2000. Officer Moore is the grandson of the late Ed Watkins of McEwen. Vickie Sizemore was hired in July as the police records clerk. She will also be handling the municipal court records.

      The department maintains the police and fire radio repeater system located at the water tower on Bratcher Street. This was acquired through the assistance of the Humphreys County E-911 Committee. The repeater is a great help in radio communications for the police department. This repeater has greatly improved our communications with the sheriff's office and Waverly City dispatchers when using our portable radios. Our department has radio equipment, which is capable of communicating with other city and county police agencies and fire departments. Along with being able to communicate with them, we current respond to mutual aid requests when needed.

      Our department in 1998 acquired a four-wheel drive Blazer from the DRMO at Ft. Campbell, KY. This was provided at no cost to the City. The vehicle has been especially helpful in special/emergency operations and during severe weather. The police department is especially grateful to the McEwen Fire Department and Ambulance Service Inc. (ASI) for donating equipment such as, medical equipment, fire extinguishers, extrication equipment, and much more towards equipping the Blazer in the event of an emergency. The fire department is undoubtedly an indispensable asset to the City of McEwen and all of Fire District #3. The fire department responds to all types of fires, medical emergencies, personal injury vehicle accidents, search and rescue, and maintains the "Jaws of Life" rescue equipment.

      Previous to 1977, the position of Chief of Police was titled Town Marshall. The Town Marshall was responsible for maintaining these areas: Town Security, the Police Department, and the Department of Public Works. The two positions of Town Marshall and Superintendent of Public Works were separated and the title of Town Marshall was changed to Chief of Police. McEwen acquired its first city owned police car back in 1959 under the direction of Town Marshall Doyle Brown. The vehicle was purchased as a used vehicle of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Doyle Brown replaced Mr. Luke Winstead whom retired due to his health. Some of the people who have been Town Marshall or Chief of Police of McEwen were Luther H. Winstead Sr., Charlie Kennerly, Doyle Brown, Leon Schreiber, Howard Deck, Dewey Profitt Sr., Dick Stanfield, Joe Holland, Bill Sellers, Arthur Ray Kimmons, and Bill Larkin. From the early 1970's through the early 1980's, Dave Garland, J.C. Damesworth and Clint Jones held the office.