Elect Sam Cameron for Jefferson County, TN Sheriff

Ladies and gentlemen,

A short time ago, I contacted Jeff Coffey and conceded the election.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported me in my campaign for Sheriff. While we came up short, this journey has been a meaningful and rewarding experience. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many new people and reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen in quite some time—and that alone has made it worthwhile.

I can now say I gave it my best, and yes… even got the T-shirt.

Thank you again to everyone who offered your support, encouragement, and trust along the way. I wish Sheriff Coffey and all of our newly elected officials the very best as they serve our community.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today is Election Day! For football fans, we’re in the 4th quarter. For baseball fans, we’re in the bottom of the ninth. This is the moment that counts.

I hope each and every one of you will head out and vote to support the candidate you believe in.

I am one of those candidates, and I humbly ask for your vote to serve as your next Sheriff of Jefferson County. I have spent my entire adult life serving this community as a public servant, and it would be a true honor to finish my career as your Sheriff.

This campaign has been a long and grueling road. There have been challenges and obstacles at nearly every turn. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many people. The overwhelming majority have been kind, gracious, and supportive—with the occasional difficult encounter here and there.

I’ve also met many of the other candidates running for various offices in Jefferson County. Despite what you may hear, most of them are good people who simply hold different ideas and perspectives. It’s okay to disagree—that’s part of what makes our system work.

My hope is that after today, win or lose, we can all come back together, treat each other with respect, and continue working to make Jefferson County an even better place to live.

In closing, I know there may be a few celebratory—or consoling—drinks shared tonight. Some will raise a glass in victory, others may raise one in sorrow or for different reasons. Either way, please drink responsibly… and maybe wait until after you’ve voted for me before you do. We wouldn’t want anything getting in the way of your vote! 🤣

Thank you all, and God bless Jefferson County. VOTE CAMERON FOR SHERIFF TODAY MAY 5TH, 2026 !

This is Amazing....one of the fake Facebook accounts trolling on Facebook appears to be using an identifying photo from a lady who was arrested in another state. I am curious if the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, will be using their high tech computer task force to notify the lady who's identity has been stolen and then identify who stole it and bring them to justice? I'm going to guess probably not...seems like wishful thinking 🤔.

Police: Hogansburg woman had 1,100 grams of co***ne in her possession A Hogansburg woman is accused of having 1,100 grams of co***ne in her possession.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Despite what the media sometimes portrays...In 26 years of policing, I have never worked with a police officer that wanted to harm or kill someone, NEVER! I would ask that everyone be patient, and wait on the facts to be released pertaining to this investigation before forming opinions or passing judgement.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the officers, their families, the department, and the suspect/victims family.

https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/04/17/jefferson-county-deputies-involved-shooting-sheriffs-office-says/

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to take a moment to share some information that many people simply do not know about the difference between working in law enforcement and working in the private sector.

One thing I’ve learned from speaking with citizens across Jefferson County is that most people believe police officers receive overtime after 40 hours in a week—just like most private-sector jobs. That assumption is understandable, but it is not accurate.

Law enforcement operates under a different federal standard known as the Fair Labor Standards Act exemption, often referred to as the “207(k)” provision. Under this system, agencies can adopt a 28-day work cycle instead of a traditional 40-hour work week.

What that means is this: instead of earning overtime after 160 hours in a month (or 40 hours per week), law enforcement officers may not receive overtime until they exceed 171 hours within a 28-day period.

To put that into perspective, most officers in our area work 12-hour shifts. Over a 28-day cycle, that typically equals 168 hours—just under the overtime threshold.

Now, let’s look at how this impacts agencies here in Jefferson County.
City police departments generally pay officers on a bi-weekly basis. When an officer exceeds the 171-hour threshold within that 28-day cycle, they are compensated accordingly—receiving straight time for some additional hours and overtime for anything beyond the federal threshold.

The Sheriff’s Office, however, operates differently. Deputies are paid a monthly salary. While that may sound stable, it creates a hidden issue: there are 13 separate 28-day work cycles in a year, but only 12 monthly paychecks.
This means deputies can work additional hours within those cycles without seeing proportional compensation in their regular pay structure.

It’s also important to note that, until recent years, many county deputies were compensated with comp time instead of overtime pay—meaning they earned time off rather than additional income. While comp time has its place, it does not help deputies meet financial obligations the same way a paycheck does.

Another issue with the 28-day system is how leave time is handled. If a deputy works significant overtime early in the cycle but then must take sick leave before the period ends, those sick hours can reduce the total hours counted—potentially eliminating overtime they otherwise would have earned.

The end result is this: many deputies leave the Sheriff’s Office for city departments and only then realize how much income they were effectively missing under the county system.

At the same time, the public is often unaware of how the 207(k) system works. Many assume deputies are being compensated the same way as other professions, and are surprised to learn they are not paid weekly or bi-weekly like most workers.

This is not just a payroll issue—it is a retention issue. If we want to recruit and keep good deputies, we must ensure they are compensated in a way that is fair, competitive, and transparent.

Human Resources | Calculating Overtime for Public Safety Employees | MTAS - Serving Tennessee City Officials The FLSA requires state and local governments using the 207(k) exemption to declare the work period for employees engaged in law enforcement and fire protection. The act does not require the same work period for all law enforcement and fire protection personnel. | Manuals and Guides

Last batch of ordered yard signs have arrived. If anyone would like a yard sign, please personal message me and I will get them out your way. Thank you all for your support.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite what my opponent may be saying, I am a strong proponent of working with our community to ensure that churches and all places of worship are safe and secure.

I would acknowledge the current Sheriff has made meaningful advancements in this area. However, I believe more can and should be done.

If elected Sheriff, I will work to ensure that every church and place of worship feels welcomed, supported, and protected by the Sheriff’s Office.

During my time in college, I studied risk analysis and threat assessment, and through conversations with members of our community, I have learned that several churches have never had a formal safety evaluation conducted at their facilities.This is a gap that needs to be addressed.

We have seen the importance of these assessments in our local schools, and I believe that same level of attention should be extended to our churches and places of worship.

As Sheriff, I will prioritize expanding these efforts—partnering with faith leaders to conduct risk assessments, improve preparedness, and strengthen security—so that every congregation can gather in peace and without fear.

Additionally, I would like to work towards improving networking between the Sheriff’s Office and faith leaders. I believe this is important in an effort to improve sharing information and intelligence pertaining to security and threat related issues.

I know many of the people I have spoken with have stated or implied they were not aware of Department of Justice Grants and other grants available to help and provide assistance in these areas. Here is a link to one such grant being offered.

https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-10/sf1648_houses_of_worship_grant_app_jun2022.pdf

Thank you all for your time and I ask for your vote. Early voting starts April 15th, 2026. Voting day is May 5th, 2026. PLEASE VOTE SAM CAMERON FOR SHERIFF!

www.justice.gov

https://www.facebook.com/share/17F7UvgFgG/

Think officers are leaving for better pay? Think again.

If agencies want to fix retention, the answer isn’t just bigger budgets… it’s better leadership.

Read more: https://trib.al/lFRbEid

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to take a moment to share my position on the Animal Control Division within the Sheriff’s Department.
It is my belief that Animal Control Officers should be POST-certified law enforcement officers.

These individuals are often called upon to handle complex and sometimes dangerous situations involving domesticated animals. They should be fully trained, equipped, and authorized to investigate and respond to these incidents effectively and professionally.

Over the years, I have also heard consistent concerns from citizens regarding the lack of after-hours response to animal-related calls. This is a gap in service that should not exist. Emergencies involving animals do not follow a schedule, and the public deserves a response when these situations arise.

If elected Sheriff, I will work to restore Animal Control to an on-call status, ensuring that trained personnel are available to respond to calls for service after hours.

I firmly believe the Sheriff’s Office holds the primary responsibility for animal control services across the county. My administration will take ownership of that responsibility.

By establishing POST-certified positions and implementing a reliable on-call schedule, I will ensure that our community receives consistent, professional, and timely service—day or night.

I also believe this would enable the department to have additional presence and response in your community.

Thank you, my name is Sam Cameron and I ask for your vote for Sheriff of Jefferson County, TN.