After more than 20 years serving as Crossville Police Chief, Dave Beaty was dismissed last week by City manager Greg Wood.  Wood had put Beaty on probation back in May claiming the Police Department had too much turn over of officers (the Chronicle reports there have seven resignations and one termination in 2018 thus far).  Crossville Police Department is short five officers currently.

In the article filed by the Chronicle, Wood is quoted as saying “…The department has had an increased turnover rate-33 percent turnover rate within 13 months.”

There are some in the community blaming the turn-over rate on low salaries for the officers.  Sources we’ve spoken to tell CNF Police officers get paid more in just about all surrounding similar sized Police Departments. We have yet to find out exactly why Crossville pays a much lower salary to Police officers compared to surrounding towns.  But, we did find out there may be another huge factor in turn-over.  A few years ago the City voted to remove employees from the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) state retirement program.  Existing officers were allowed to stay in the program but new hires are only offered a simple 401K program.  Generally, officers wishing to relocate to Crossville would not want to give up their state retirement and existing officers may want to move from Crossville to be enrolled in TCRS and get a higher salary.