New Chief of La Follette Police Department is veteran law enforcement officer Matthew Forsyth

TOP PHOTO: New La Follette Chief of Police Matthew Forsyth works the school zone lights at La Follette Elementary School last February.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Yesterday afternoon the LaFollette City Council accepted two employee resignations and hired a new police chief.

Councilman Stephanie Solomon made the motion to appoint Matt Forsyth effective immediately as the new police chief, Councilman Wayne Kitts second the motion with Councilman Mark Hoskins and Councilman Chuck Queener voting no. Mayor Scott Kitts made the tie breaking vote of yes.

Hoskins told the council that he would like a letter from MTAS stating that Scott Kitts could be the tie breaking vote.

Matthew Forsyth is LPD’s new chief and is shown here in this March 2024 photo helping raise funds for La Follette Police Sergeant Mike Satkowski who was battling cancer. Forsyth and around 15 other officers and city employees withstood the cold rain to help the sergeant.

The first resignation was from City Judge Kathy Parrott and the second was from Police Chief Steve Wallen, whose last day will be Jan. 10. The council agreed to advertise for someone to fill the city judge position for 14 days.

The council approved hiring Jacob Brown as a full time patrolman effective Jan. 11.

Ordinance 2024-10 amending the zoning ordinance pertaining to swimming pools had a final reading. The ordinance adds definitions of a pool alarm and a swimming pool. Ordinance 2024-11 amending the zoning ordinance had a final reading The ordinance states no building shall be erected on a lot which does not abut at least one public street, unless an easement at least 30 feet in width to a street is provided. For any dwelling abutting a public or private street, an entrance to the dwelling must face the street.

Resolution 2025-10 amending the 2024-25 budget was approved. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/08/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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