AS A native of Shelbyville who began his career in public service over 50 years ago, police Chief Jan Phillips is deeply rooted within the core of our community. He started his career as an EMT at the Bedford County Ambulance Service in 1973. In January 1977, he became a dispatcher for the police department. After graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy later that year, he was promoted to the patrol division.
From there, Phillips received several promotions. In 2000, he was promoted to the major over patrol, and in September 2014, he was promoted to his current position as chief of police under City Manager Jay Johnson.
Cellphones, personal computers, portable radios, the World Wide Web, and advanced technology in forensic science didn’t exist for many of those years, and Phillips recalls this as being the biggest challenge he has overcome. Nonlethal weapons such as tasers, projectile weapons, and chemical sprays also weren’t available. With the newfound use of DNA analysis in 1987 and advancements in cell phone forensics in recent years, the city now has a trained cellphone forensics technician, a crime scene unit, crime scene investigators, and an evidence technician. Phillips’ officers are also using in-car and body-worn cameras.
When he first began patrolling the streets, there were 25 officers and dispatchers, but today, the police department’s staff has swelled to 68 staff members, with 52 of those being sworn officers. Through the years, Phillips has made the training of his officers a top priority, so the department employs a full-time officer who prepares staff for unusual circumstances and helps them develop and enhance their skills.
One such unusual circumstance happened in 2017 when several nationally known organizations planned to hold a rally near the courthouse. This event had the potential to ignite division locally and caused a stir across national media outlets.
Phillips recalls, “This was the biggest challenge of my career. It was a very stressful time. Our department prepared for weeks to keep our city safe during that time. As a member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP), I am thankful I had strong relationships with other chiefs across our state who offered their assistance with equipment manpower, and they showed up in numbers. There was also good planning and support from within our own city, and many others helped our department maintain peace that day.”
The following year, the TACP named Phillips as “Chief of the Year” for 2018. He also received the 2018 Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leadership Award.
According to Phillips, the largest challenge he faces today is in recruiting and retaining officers.
“In recent years, police departments throughout the country have experienced much negativity, but our community stands beside us and supports our law enforcement officers. Besides my officers, community support is our biggest asset. We work hard to maintain a good relationship with everyone in our community.”
Since 2012, Phillips has worked alongside Bedford County Sheriff Austin Swing to receive accreditation via the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
“This is a lengthy process of development of policies and procedures that raises our department to the highest levels in the state.”
On Aug. 20, Phillips and his wife, Mary Grace, celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their son, Kyle Phillips, is a board-certified doctor of pharmacy and serves our veterans as the chief of pharmacy at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Nashville and Murfreesboro. Mary Grace likes to say she has “two chiefs.”
Although his personal and professional accomplishments prove otherwise, Phillips does not think of himself as someone who is heroic.
“I’m not a hero, but I have enjoyed my job. The men and women who put their lives on the line daily and the ones we’ve lost along the way — those are the real heroes. I’m just an old country boy that grew up here on a farm. But I believe that if we treat everyone with respect and dignity, it will come back to you. This is what I have instilled in each of my officers.”
Phillips continued, “One of the darkest days of my career was Feb. 17, 1999, when Officer Melvin Claxton and I were chasing an escaped inmate, and Officer Claxton became ill. We lost him to a heart attack that day. He was one of my closest friends. I still miss him. Early in my career, we also lost G.J. Jordan and Floyd Collins, who were killed in the line of duty. These officers are heroes — not me.” GN
