By Natalie Neysa Alund
News Sentinel
NEWPORT, Tenn. — From cock fighting and moonshine busts to dirty politicians and corrupt cops, Cocke County’s got a reputation.
And its residents have had enough.
With their newly elected sheriff, Armando Fontes, in command, some say that reputation could soon become history.
So far this year, the Sheriff’s Department has netted 832 arrests — 365 of them under Fontes, who took office Sept. 1.
The arrests include 12 aggravated assaults, 10 burglaries and two arrests that stem from an early September bank robbery. Deputies also have seized close to $10,000 in drug money and thousands of prescription pills during other arrests.
During his first week on the job, Fontes, 36, fired deputy Tom Harp; the sheriff said his office had gotten a tip that marijuana was being grown at a shared family home. Just last week, Fontes fired corrections officer GeorgeTrent; he’saccused of selling drugs to a Cocke County jail inmate. Both men are slated to have their cases presented before a grand jury next month.
“I think we are going in the right direction, finally making a change,” said Fontes, who started his career as a Cocke County reserve deputy in 1996 and worked his way up through the ranks.
He ran as an Independent in the November general election and beat Republican candidate Alton Cureton. Cureton had won the primary against former Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange.
Fontes takes his new post, which includes overseeing 65 full-time deputies, after decades of state and federal corruption probes of high-profile police officials.
Fontes won’t put up with wrongdoings and said, if necessary, he’ll fire more employees.
“We want employees that honor the badge,” said Fontes.
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