JUST AS the morning sun begins to rise over Tullahoma, Officer Derek Bowles laces up his boots, ready for another day on duty. Beside him, his loyal partner, Storm, a sleek Belgian Malinois, stands present and alert. Their bond is strong, and their movements are unified. Together, they’re a seamless team dedicated to serving their community.
For much of our community, Bowles’ name is synonymous with compassion and service in Coffee County. Bowles was born and raised in Manchester. He grew up in a loving environment with two supportive parents and two younger sisters.
As a standout four-sport athlete at Tullahoma High School, he excelled in football, baseball, track, and wrestling. His initial dream was to teach and coach, but life had other plans.
While attending Motlow State Community College, he balanced various part-time jobs to support his education during a financially challenging period for his family.
Eventually, feeling burnt out from school, Bowles dreamed of a more immediate means to support his future family. Conversations with his uncle, a law enforcement officer, opened his eyes to the possibility of a career in law enforcement. After his uncle shared with him the need for conscientious and level-headed officers, Bowles decided to pursue law enforcement.
In 2014, Bowles graduated from the Cleveland State Law Enforcement Training Academy and began his career with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Eventually, he returned to his hometown, joining the Manchester Police Department before moving to Tullahoma. He wanted his children to experience all the great opportunities he experienced in the Tullahoma City Schools system. Today, Bowles resides in Tullahoma with his wife and two daughters, deeply embedded in the community he loves.
Bowles’ passion for law enforcement found a new dimension when he became a K-9 officer.
“Growing up, we always had dogs,” Bowles shared. “I’ve always had a love for these animals.”
His interest in narcotics detection and apprehending wanted persons naturally led him to the K-9 unit. After witnessing the incredible capabilities of a well-trained narcotics detection dog during his tenure at the sheriff’s office, Bowles knew he wanted to work with a K-9 partner.
In 2019, Bowles’ aspiration became a reality when the department paired him with Storm, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois imported from the Netherlands.
Storm is no ordinary dog. Storm is a dual-purpose police service dog trained in narcotics detection, tracking, apprehension, article search, and off-leash obedience. Together, the two have tackled many narcotics cases, resulting in local, state, and federal convictions.
Storm has helped apprehend a dangerous felon wanted by two separate law enforcement agencies. The K-9 also assisted U.S. marshals in a standoff with a barricaded suspect with a history of violent crime. Remarkably, Storm’s presence helped de-escalate the situation entirely, avoiding the need for force. This is just one example of Storm’s ability to calm tense situations.
Along with their strategic skills, Storm has displayed phenomenal drug detection abilities. During one investigation, the K-9 successfully located a substantial amount of narcotics and cash hidden inside a vehicle door. Storm has been influential in many other drug investigations as well.
Their teamwork has earned them multiple awards, including the prestigious Top Dog at the Onpoint Police Canine Seminar and Competition.
Negative experiences with law enforcement overwhelm citizens every day. Bowles advocates for the media to show the world the positive deeds officers perform on a daily basis. From his perspective, enlightening our society on these uplifting stories may give citizens hope and offer a more optimistic view of law enforcement.
Bowles makes it his mission to bridge the gaps between citizens and law enforcement, recognizing the complexities of these relationships. He organizes narcotics detection demonstrations for community groups and events to build trust and transparency within the community.
“I introduced Storm and myself to a number of classes during a career day event at Robert E. Lee Elementary School,” he explained. “While patrolling different areas and being the sports fan that I am, if I see some kids tossing football, I always get out and throw with them when I can.”
A typical day for Bowles and Storm is dynamic and demanding.
“Every morning, Storm gets fed, and we start our day,” Bowles explained.
They go from responding to disturbance calls to conducting traffic stops and using Storm’s finesse to detect narcotics or track suspects. In between calls, Bowles conducts training and obedience routines, direct reward tracks, or detection exercises to sharpen Storm’s skills. A well-trained K-9 can significantly impact daily law enforcement operations and public safety.
The most rewarding aspect of Bowles’ job is positively impacting people’s lives. Whether steering individuals away from drug addiction or providing a listening ear to those in crisis, he finds a purpose in helping others. The appreciation he receives from individuals whose lives he has touched reminds him that his actions truly make a difference.
In the future, Bowles hopes to introduce non-aggressive tracking dogs to assist in locating missing persons. Bowles strives to be a good husband and father, raising his daughters to be productive citizens.
To the community that supports him, Bowles shared: “Thank you for your continued support of the Tullahoma Police Department. Thank you for being a community that is great to raise a family in. I hope that our agency is one that the community is proud of and will continue to be proud of.” GN
