Knoxville — UPDATE WEDNESDAY: Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones continued his criticism of Knox County's law director Wednesday, saying his "bad advice" is leading to bad decisions.
Jones said several Knox County commissioners voted Monday against hiring representation for seven retired deputies who are being sued by the Law Director's Office in a pension and vacation dispute. They voted based on Law Director Bud Armstrong's advice that they weren't empowered to hire counsel.
Armstrong told commissioners the county charter barred it.
Jones, however, disagrees, arguing in fact that charter does permit it.
He quotes a section of the charter in a Wednesday Facebook posting.
"No elected or appointed officer or employee of the County shall employ any other attorney to represent the County or any officer, board, or member of the Commission unless he/she shall first be authorized and empowered to do so by resolution of the Commission. Provided, however, that the Law Director shall have authority, within the budget approved by the County Commission for this purpose, to hire outside counsel when, in the judgment of the Law Director, such is necessary for the fulfillment of his/her duties under the Section."
Jones added: "Because of that bad advice, hopefully on Monday those County Commissioners will do the right thing and Back the Blue."
Commissioners met Monday in a work session. Their formal session is Monday, March 26.
PREVIOUS STORY: A Facebook post from the Knox County Sheriff's Office demonstrates the sheriff's support of one county mayoral candidate while denouncing another candidate after a failed resolution vote at a Knox County Commission work session Monday.
"Anders Votes for Officers, Thomas Doesn't," the Sheriff's Office claimed atop the 390 word Facebook post.
The lengthy statement followed the commission failing to pass a resolution presented by the sheriff and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett that would allow the commission to discuss hiring defense attorneys for retired sheriff's deputies who are being sued by the county law department over a pension and vacation day dispute.
The commission split the vote 5-5 on the resolution.
".. The meaning of "Back the Blue" was completely lost on five Knox County Commissioners during the Knox County Commission Workshop Monday. Remember their names: Bob Thomas (running for mayor), Ed Brantley, Carson Dailey, Evelyn Gill, and John Schoonmaker," the post read.
The sheriff's office went on to say:
"Remember these Knox County Commissioners because they understood the issue and voted for representation for the retirees: Brad Anders (running for County Mayor), Michele Carringer, Randy Smith, Hugh Nystrom, and Charles Busler."
Though Busler voted in favor of the resolution, he told 10News Tuesday that the commission "shouldn't have had the resolution before us."
Attorney Dennis Francis has been representing members of the law enforcement community for more than 40 years and says the lawsuit has unusual characteristics.
"It seems to me that everybody is getting paid counsel except the people that are being affected by this matter, and I'm kind of at a loss to understand how that could be," Francis said.
He said the fact that the request was a joint resolution shows that the case is a priority for both county law enforcement and executive leaders.
"Historically, we've had nothing but bad blood and hard times between our various mayors and sheriffs, so the me that's pretty indicative that this is being treated seriously by the two most politically powerful people in the county," Francis said.
Tennessee has a law called the Little Hatch Act that prohibits all state employees from certain campaigning, but the Knox County District Attorney's Office says the law only applies to state employees, thus local elected officials are not subject to its restrictions.
Knox County Sheriff Jimmy Jones was not able to speak on camera.