Keith Lowery, a 27-year law enforcement officer in Rutherford County, has been selected as the new assistant chief of police of the La Vergne Police Department.  Chief Mike Walker announced that Lowery will begin his new duties on February 10, 2014 as he is sworn in at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room at City Hall.

"Keith Lowery is a man of integrity and impeccable character. He has strong leadership skills and a vast amount of knowledge in all areas of our profession, as well as modern law enforcement principles and community programs," said Chief Walker. "He will be an asset to our growing and professional Police Department here in La Vergne!"

Assistant Chief Lowery's experience includes patrol, investigations, S.W.A.T., and crime scene. In addition, he commanded both Technical Services and Special Services divisions of law enforcement including training, evidence, S.W.A.T., and the communications systems.

Lowery began his career in law enforcement in 1987 as a corrections officer with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office; however, the majority of his three years there were serving as a patrol deputy. Lowery worked at the Smyrna Police Department for more than 23 years, serving as a patrol officer, detective, lieutenant, and captain before his retirement in early 2013. Lowery returned to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office as a captain and was promoted to major, overseeing Information Technology.

Chief Walker said Lowery is joining the LPD at an important time when the city upgrades the CAD/RMS and radio systems. "As we go through our own dispatch and radio system changeover, his work with the Motorola 800MHz trunked radio, all radio infrastructure, and other systems will be hugely beneficial to La Vergne."

The city is replacing its outdated radio system in order to be compliant with federal mandate P25, which was effective in January of 2014. In addition, a new CAD/RMS system is being installed that will primarily ensure that emergency calls are not dropped. The new system will also be able to generate crime reports by location and type, track police and public safety personnel who are being dispatched, geocode emergencies, allow immediate access to numerous reports and documents, and much more.

"Given the enormity of what we are now undertaking, the technology experience Assistant Chief Lowery brings to the table will be tremendous," said Walker. "We will also be able to leverage his years of law enforcement to benefit the members of the La Vergne Police Department, as well as the citizens of La Vergne!"

Mayor Senna Mosley lauded the selection of Lowery as assistant chief of police, "We have made tremendous progress in crime reduction since Chief Walker came on board. I am confident that with the addition of Assistant Chief Lowery, we will continue to keep public safety as our top priority in La Vergne. He joins a great team of law enforcement officers who work diligently day and night to protect people and property."

Lowery and his wife Cassie have been married over 23 years. They have two sons, Brandon (a sophomore in college) and Bradley (a junior in high school).

Source: 

Kathy Tyson, City of LaVergne Spokesperson