KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department has named a new permanent deputy chief after the previous leader of the police department's Office of Professional Standards departed the position months after starting.
KPD said in a release that since the previous deputy chief of professional standards left the role, Bruce Guyton has served as the interim deputy chief. He started in his interim role in July 2023. Less than a year later, in May 2024, KPD said he would take over as the permanent deputy chief of professional standards.
Guyton previously served as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee for around 20 years, retiring in 2022. Before that, he was a founding partner at a law firm, according to a release from KPD. The police department said one of his primary areas of concentration was discrimination and employment law.
He graduated from Rhodes College, as well as the University of Virginia School of Law.
In the role as deputy chief of professional standards, he will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating KPD's policies, practices, procedures and training. Ultimately, the role is meant to enhance and improve strategies that promote accountability and adherence to law and policy, according to the job description. The deputy chief of professional standards is also responsible for providing technical and internal support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
He will also oversee the KPD Internal Affairs Unit.