TOP PHOTO: TWRA Wildlife Officer Jeff Webb has retired after 26 years of service to the agency. 

MORRISTOWN, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) -TWRA Wildlife Officer Jeff Webb has retired after 26 years of service to the agency. 

Officer Webb began his career with TWRA in 1997, working as a part-time boating officer in Roane County while also working full-time as a police officer with the Alcoa Police Department.  He was hired full-time with the agency in 1998, and assigned to Hancock County. 

He transferred to Grainger County in 1999 and worked there until 2011. During his time there, he was the District 41 Officer of the Year in 2001, the Knoxville Optimist Club Officer of the Year in 2002, and in 2008 was presented a commendation for valor by the Grainger County Special Operations Team for actions during the capture of one the TBI’s Ten Most Wanted. 

Officer Webb transferred to the Gatlinburg Bear Officer position in 2011 and was promoted to Lead Wildlife Officer.  Shortly thereafter, he promoted to the rank of sergeant where he was responsible for Blount, Loudon, and Sevier counties. 

In 2012, he promoted to Regional Lieutenant and was tasked with regional duties as well as organizing the Agency’s first structured Field Training Officer program.  Seeking a return to the field, he left the administrative realm in 2014 and voluntarily returned to the wildlife officer ranks to work as the first full-time boating officer on Norris Lake.  He then transferred to the Knox County wildlife officer position in 2016 where he worked until retirement. 

During his time with the agency, he constructed a “Spanish for Wildlife Officers” course that he taught at the Tennessee Wildlife Officer Training Academy as well as to various districts for over 12 years.  He also served as a defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, armorer, and patrol rifle instructor for most of his career.  He was a member of the TWRA Honor Guard from its inception in 2013 until retirement and had the privilege of presenting the Tennessee state flag during opening ceremonies at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. during Police Week in 2017. 

Officer Webb was vice president as well as director at large of the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Association for a total of four years. For the last few years, he instructed the Wildlife Law Enforcement course at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. 

Officer Webb says, “I can’t thank the TWRA enough for all they’ve given me: a way to make a living, a lifetime of memories and adventures, but mostly for opportunities beyond my wildest dreams.  For all of these, I’m most appreciative.”  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/14/2023-6AM)

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