It is with profound sadness that I share the news: Knox County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Bernie Lyon has passed away. Bernie served as the steadfast #2 to Sheriff Tom Spangler throughout the entire seven-and-a-half years of the Spangler administration—the only person to hold that role during his tenure.

Chief Lyon was always kind, respectful, and professional toward me and my blog, even in moments when he truly didn’t have to be. He wasn’t the type for casual conversations; interactions came only when necessary. But as he prepared to run for Sheriff in 2026 to succeed the term-limited Sheriff Spangler, we had the opportunity to connect more deeply over the past year-plus, building a genuine acquaintance.

I’m sharing the last two photos I believe we took together: one from his campaign kickoff on April 3, 2025, and another from the Town of Farragut July 4th parade.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Chief Lyon’s family, his friends, and the entire KCSO family—especially the administration team who worked so closely with him.

Go ahead, Chief. We’ve got the watch down here until we meet again. Rest easy.