The early settlers of Fort
Nashborough (now Nashville) recognized early on the need for a Sheriff. This official
position dates back to 10th-century England, where the Sheriff was an agent of the King.
The first Sheriff of Davidson County, Daniel Williams, was appointed in 1783 by a court in
North Carolina (the state of Tennessee had not yet been established at that point in time,
and the area we now call "middle Tennessee" was still part of the state of North
Carolina).
What were the qualifications and functions of Tennessee's earliest Sheriffs? Why was
it important for the settlers to have such an official? Apparently, one of the first
concerns at Fort Nashborough was that the Sheriff be a proven soldier and fighter. In
1783, Davidson County was still a lively battleground with Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw
warriors attempting to block the encroachment of European settlers. Daniel Williams had
stayed to defend Fort Nashborough when other men had taken their families to less
dangerous ground, thereby proving his bravery and willingness to take a stand and fight.
Sheriff Williams had no jail to keep, no vehicles patrolling his area - which was an
extensive wilderness very sparsely settled - and no established local bureaucracy to
determine the functions of his appointed position. His main duty, it appears, was to
respond bravely to danger and to lead other men when facing problems.
One of the biggest law enforcement problems of those days was horse thievery. It was the
Sheriff's duty to have the cheeks of horse thieves branded or, if the stealing continued,
to have the thieves hanged. The Sheriff also gave certain offenders a specified number of
lashes in the public street, if they were found guilty of having committed certain
particular crimes.
As Davidson County developed, so has the office of Sheriff. In 1834, Jacksonian democracy
brought changes, which included holding public elections to select county Sheriffs.
Throughout history, changes in the law have created changes in the Sheriffs' powers and
responsibilities.
Since the institution of metropolitan government in 1963, the Davidson County Sheriff is
no longer a law enforcement official. Currently, the Sheriff's Office is charged with two
major functions: the safety and security of all inmates housed in Davidson County jails,
and the service of all civil process. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
functions as the primary law enforcement agency.
Although the Sheriff's Office no longer lashes offenders in the public streets and no
longer patrols the roads, it has assumed a great responsibility to Metropolitan Nashville.
Overseeing more than 4,000 inmates, over 850 employees, and a $70-million budget, makes
the Davidson County Sheriff's Office an important and essential part of our community.
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