Passionate is the word when Robert Sexton’s name is raised in conversation about law enforcement. He knows it, too. He embraces it, as he has embraced his long career of 45 years.
This long-serving hero is assistant chief deputy for operations at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. He’s 65, a grandfather, still going strong, still running calls alongside his deputies, day or night.
Robert Sexton
Sexton’s first 35 years in this stressful line of work was at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. His career began on April 9, 1976. He retired from KCSO in July 2011 as an assistant chief. He was 55.
Being idle in retirement was not for Sexton. He taught a semester at Hardin Valley Academy and found that was not his calling. Then he worked patrol for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for three years, left there and for 6 ½ years worked as a full-time school resource officer at Grace Christian Academy. Then his phone rang. Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker, elected in 2018, was calling. “He wanted me to be on his command staff, so here I am,” Sexton says. “Loving every minute of it, too.”
He is over ACSO’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Canine Unit and also works with the patrol division. He tries not to spend too much time behind his desk.e HH
Sexton is a product of North Knoxville, graduating from Fulton High School in 1974. There were four Sexton boys in the family – Robert, Randall, Roger and Russell – and a sister, Cindy, who died a few years ago. The family of seven survived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house.
Coming out of Fulton, he was awarded a pre-med academic scholarship to the University of Tennessee, but left after only a year. He was working at a Burger King and got to know a few KCSO deputies who ate there regularly. “I listened to them talk about their jobs and asked them questions and I decided that was what I wanted to do,” he says. “I went home and told my folks and my Mom cried. She wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer or a Baptist preacher … anything but a cop,” he says.
And why is he a cop? “It was simple for me. I wanted to serve people. I really care for people and the best way I can serve people and my community I decided was law enforcement. Every day is different. It’s a new set of people and issues to deal with every day and I still have that same desire today.”
After signing on at KCSO, he enrolled at Walters State Community College and earned an associate degree in criminal justice in 1982. His next bit of law enforcement education is something he ranks as his proudest professional accomplishment – graduating from the six-month-long FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in July 1986 at the age of 30. He was the youngest in a class of 250 and finished third in the class.
Sexton has experienced the ups and downs of the job. His worst moment was on March 27, 1984, at a motel in West Knox County. His best friend, Investigator Jim Kennedy, was shot and killed as he and Sexton investigated a stolen car complaint. As Kennedy attempted to force the door open, the suspect inside opened fire, striking him four times. Despite the wounds, Kennedy was able to force the door open, but the suspect was able to close it again, keeping the other officers outside. The suspect then intentionally shot Kennedy in an area not protected by his vest. The suspect committed suicide.
“When we got into the room the suspect was dead and lying on top of Jim,” Sexton said. “He was shot eight times, brutally murdered.
I helped carry him out of the room. It was horrible and it’s like it happened yesterday.”
Here are few more interesting things from Sexton:
- Have you ever wanted to be a sheriff? “Nope, I’m not politically inclined. I don’t want to owe anybody favors and you have to do that.”
- What’s the major criminal issue in Anderson County? “Drugs. Overdoses. It used to be meth but now it’s heroin and fentanyl. Cocaine is just about dried up. Almost every crime can be tracked back to drugs. Our EMS and ambulances are overwhelmed these days.”
- He clears his head and eases the stress by riding his beautiful 2019 Indian Roadmaster retro-looking motorcycle. Prior to this one he owned eight Harley-Davidson’s. “I’ve got 2,500 songs on my phone and listen to everything from ZZ Top to Christian music and just ride down the road.” If it’s 70 degrees or above, his wife, LuLu, will ride with him.
Loudon County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matt Fagiana is a big fan of Sexton. “There are people who do the job and there are people who love the job with great passion. Chief Sexton is a passionate lover of serving his community. He’s one of my favorite legends in law enforcement. When I was a teenager, I knew who he was at KCSO.”
Tom King has served at newspapers in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and California and was the editor of two newspapers. Suggest future stories at tking535@gmail.com or call him at 865-659-3562.