The Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) recently awarded State Representative Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski) its 2024 Legislative Award at the organization’s 54th Annual Awards Banquet.
TACP’s Legislative Award recognizes state lawmakers who are “champions for public safety and the law enforcement profession.”
TACP explained in a press release that Doggett (pictured above) received the award this year for his work as chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and as a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee.
“Over the last two years, [Doggett] has led several initiatives to increase the retirement benefits for police officers including passing HB 2683 which created a Hazard Duty Supplemental Benefit for public safety officers,” TACP said.
HB 2683, which passed the Tennessee House and Senate unanimously earlier this year, will become law on January 1, 2025.
Doggett also led a bill that the governor passed and signed earlier this year. That bill allows retired law enforcement officers to return to work as school resource officers while still receiving full retirement benefits and pay. That bill went into effect on July 1, ahead of this year’s school year.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Legislative Award from our partners at the TACP,” Doggett said in a statement. “As a former law enforcement officer, I will always do what I can to increase protections and benefits for those who sacrifice their lives to protect us. Thank you to all the TACP leaders for this award and I look forward to continuing our work together.”
Doggett, who was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2018, is a former corrections officer and deputy sheriff for the Giles County Sheriff’s Office.
TACP is the largest law enforcement leadership organization in Tennessee, with over 1,000 members, according to its website.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “State Representative Clay Doggett” by State Representative Clay Doggett.
Proud to say he is my representative