September 10, 2026
There are some days when the news is bigger than politics.
There are some days when the arguments, disagreements, campaigns and headlines need to be set aside.
Today is one of those days.
Knox County has lost its Sheriff.
Tom Spangler has passed away.
And today, the Mega Bullhorn of Truth is not about politics.
It is about a man who spent much of his life in service to his community, his fellow law enforcement officers and the people of Knox County.
Sheriff Spangler’s journey was one of duty.
Being Sheriff is not simply a title. It means answering the phone when others are afraid. It means standing with deputies and their families during the worst moments of their lives. It means making difficult decisions, often under tremendous pressure, knowing that not everyone will agree with you.
It means putting on the badge and understanding that the responsibilities of that badge do not end when the workday does.
Tom Spangler carried that responsibility for Knox County.
A Sheriff Who Asked His Community to Pray
In February 2024, Sheriff Spangler shared with the people of Knox County that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He did something that said a great deal about the man.
He asked people to pray.
He told the community that he had confidence in his medical team and his treatment plan, and he continued to express his commitment to serving as Sheriff.
Those words are worth remembering today.
Because while the badge represented authority, the man wearing it also understood something greater — that there are battles in life that cannot be fought with authority, position or power.
Some battles require faith.
Some require courage.
Some require the prayers of family, friends, coworkers and an entire community.
Today, We Remember the Person Behind the Badge
Political life can make us forget something very important.
Every elected official is a person.
Every sheriff is a husband, father, grandfather, friend, neighbor and human being.
Behind every public office is a family that sacrifices time with the person they love.
Behind every badge is someone who has chosen a life of service.
And behind every public figure is a story that is much larger than the headlines written about them.
That is especially important to remember today.
Tom Spangler was not perfect — none of us are.
He had supporters.
He had critics.
He made decisions that were celebrated by some and questioned by others.
That comes with public service.
But regardless of where someone stood politically or on a particular issue, there is a proper time to recognize service and to mourn the loss of a fellow East Tennessean.
Today is that time.
A Life of Service Deserves Respect
For those who served alongside Sheriff Spangler, today brings personal memories that most of us will never know.
The late-night calls.
The difficult cases.
The conversations behind closed doors.
The moments of laughter.
The moments of heartbreak.
The victories.
The losses.
The names and faces that will never make the newspaper but will remain forever etched into the memories of those who wore the uniform beside him.
Those are the things that ultimately define a career in law enforcement.
Not the press conference.
Not the campaign sign.
Not the political debate.
Service.
And Tom Spangler devoted his life to service.
To the Spangler Family
To Sheriff Spangler’s family, there really are no words adequate enough for a moment like this.
Thank you for sharing Tom with Knox County.
Public service is never carried by the public servant alone. Families make sacrifices, endure long hours and live with the uncertainty that comes with having someone they love serving in law enforcement.
Today, Knox County grieves with you.
May you find comfort in the memories.
May you find strength in the love of family and friends.
And may you find peace in the knowledge that Tom’s life made a difference.
To the Men and Women of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office
To the deputies, corrections officers, civilian employees and everyone who has worn the Knox County Sheriff’s Office badge alongside Sheriff Spangler:
Today, take a moment.
Remember your Sheriff.
Remember the man.
Remember the leader.
Remember the colleague.
And remember the mission he dedicated himself to — protecting and serving the people of Knox County.
The badge will continue.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue.
The work will continue.
But there will always be an empty place where Tom Spangler once stood.
The Final Measure of a Life
As I have gotten older, I have come to believe that the measure of a person’s life is not found in the number of headlines written about them.
It is found in the lives they touched.
It is found in the people who will miss them.
It is found in the people who can say, “I knew him.”
It is found in the difference they made when nobody was watching.
And today, there are many people across Knox County who can say they knew Tom Spangler, worked with Tom Spangler, served alongside Tom Spangler or were helped by Tom Spangler.
That is a legacy.
Rest in Peace, Sheriff
The Mega Bullhorn of Truth has never been afraid to speak plainly.
So let me speak plainly today:
Thank you, Sheriff Spangler, for your service.
Thank you for wearing the badge.
Thank you for standing in the gap.
Thank you for answering the call.
Thank you for serving Knox County.
And now, after a lifetime of answering the call of duty, may you finally rest.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, your friends, your colleagues and every member of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
May God comfort them in the days ahead.
And may God welcome you home.
Rest in peace, Sheriff Tom Spangler.
Your watch is over.
Your service is complete.
Your legacy remains.
