NEW TAZEWELL, Tenn. — On Thursday, Sgt. Mike Patton took his last radio call after decades of service to the New Tazewell community.
Patton has worked for the New Tazewell Police Department for 40 years and is one of East Tennessee's longest-serving officers. He said the people of New Tazewell were his main motivation for serving for four decades.
"Helping people here in the community. They are a super community, and I just wanted to stay here and help all I could," Patton said.
Patton's family and members of the community were able to celebrate his retirement with him Thursday.