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The City of Kingsport offers its sincere condolences to the family of K. Gardner Hammond, who passed away last week at the age of 87.
Hammond was first elected as a Kingsport alderman in 1973. He eventually became vice mayor, then mayor elected by his peers, and finally the first citywide popularly-elected mayor in 1979. Under his tenure as mayor, the “Leadership Kingsport” program was conceived.
Other than his years at college, Hammond lived his entire life in Kingsport.
“Hammond’s low key, steady leadership and principled view of economics provided stability and set us on a positive path,” said Kingsport Mayor Pat Shull. “I periodically called on him – and all past mayors – for counsel and guidance. They always stepped-up to serve in the ‘Kingsport Spirit’ as described by J. Fred Johnson.”
Kermit Gardner Hammond was born in Kingsport on January 26, 1935 and graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1953. Hammond served as honorary student mayor his senior year and little did he know he would become the city’s first elected mayor 26 years later.
Hammond graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1957 with a degree in Arts and Sciences, then from the Darden School at the University of Virginia in 1959 with a Master’s in Business Administration.
After college, Hammond returned to Kingsport and began his career with a short stint at Tennessee Eastman before joining the team at the Kingsport Foundry and Manufacturing Corporation where he was an owner and Chief Financial Officer for more than 40 years.
While president of the Kingsport Jaycees, Hammond played a central role in establishing the Kingsport Center for Opportunity – a sheltered workshop that offered training and education to those with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Hammond was a member of the First Broad Street United Methodist Church and on the boards of directors for the American Red Cross and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Hammond was also a Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow and president of the Ridgefields Country Club.
“Mayor Hammond was a long-time Kingsport resident and community leader who had a strong sense of civic duty and love for his home town,” City Manager Chris McCartt said. “He helped guide and grow our town for decades. His loyalty and leadership will truly be missed.”
Photo caption: 5 Kingsport mayors at the Kingsport Birthday Party in March 2017. Former Mayor Phillips, Mayor Montgomery, Mayor Blazier, Mayor Hammond and Mayor Clark.
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Kingsport Police Department
Dale Phipps, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department • www.KingsportPDBlog.com |
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| NEWS RELEASE | ||||
| SUBJECT: | Kingsport Police Department Conducting Citizen Survey (Reminder) | |||
| DATE: | February 18, 2022 | |||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | ||||
| Throughout the month of February 2022, the Kingsport Police Department will be conducting a citizen survey as part of the accreditation process. K.P.D. is internationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
K.P.D. was first accredited through CALEA in 1992. The department has maintained accreditation now for nearly 30 consecutive years, being reaccredited in 1997, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021. The benefits of CALEA accreditation include greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil litigation, staunch support from government officials, and increased community advocacy. CALEA requires that an accredited agency must be in compliance with nearly 500 individual professional standards. One such standard requires that the agency conduct a documented survey of citizen attitudes and opinions at least once every two (2) years. The survey is designed to be used as a platform for organizational learning, asking specific questions about the quality of policing in the community. The survey questions are constructed so as to gauge citizen feedback with respect to: · Overall agency performance, · Overall competence of agency employees, · Citizens’ perception of officers’ attitudes and behavior, · Community concern over safety and security within the agency’s service area, and · Citizens’ recommendations and suggestions for improvements. To take the 2022 Citizen Survey, click the link below: https://www.KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department/Citizen-Survey |
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| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
| Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-343-9749 (FAX) ThomasMPatton |
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Kingsport Police Department
Dale Phipps, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department • www.KingsportPDBlog.com |
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| NEWS RELEASE | ||||
| SUBJECT: | Kingsport Police Attempting to Locate Missing 15 Year Old (Update) | |||
| DATE: | February 18, 2022 | |||
| CASE #: | 21-022651 | |||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | ||||
| Update: Damien Roy Osborne has been located safe and is no longer considered a missing juvenile.
As previously released: On November 1, 2021, 15 year old Damien Roy Osborne was reported as a missing juvenile to the Kingsport Police Department. While foul play is not suspected at this time, due to his minor age, Investigators are making every possible effort to locate him. His photo and description are included below. Anyone who sees him or who may know his current whereabouts is asked to contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111. Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us |
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| MISSING JUVENILE INFORMATION | |
| Name | Damien Roy Osborne |
| Age | 15 Years of Age |
| Gender/Race | Male/White |
| Height/
Weight |
6 feet 2 inches
140 pounds |
| Hair/Eyes | Brown hair
Blue Eyes |
| Other Description | Not provided |
| Residency | Kingsport, TN |
| Possible Clothing | Not provided |
| Last Known Location | 400 block of Allen Drive
Kingsport, TN |
| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
| Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-343-9749 (FAX) ThomasMPatton |
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Come springtime, the Kingsport Senior Center will have 2,000 square feet of new space under its roof and available to use for a variety of programs, events and activities.
How that will happen is with the removal of the four large plant boxes in the first floor atrium of the senior center. The brick boxes are stationary, take up at least 80% of the space in the atrium and restrict the type of activities that can be held in this room, said Shirley Buchanan, director of the Kingsport Senior Center.
“The ceiling in the atrium room was replaced a couple of years ago and it’s beautiful, but nobody gets to enjoy it. The space is not workable,” Buchanan said. “Even though the plants are pretty, we need that space.”
The plan is for the boxes to be removed in the coming weeks and replaced with a vinyl wood-style floor by springtime. Comsa Construction of Kingsport has been awarded the contract for the $67,500 project.
Once all is said and done, the facility will gain about 2,000 square feet of usable space for weddings, receptions and other events as well as senior center programming such as meals, movies, lectures, dances and exercise classes.
“You can rent this space now, but it’ll be so much better in the future,” Buchanan said.
Kingsport allocated $225,000 in ARPA funds last fall to the Kingsport Senior Center for this renovation and a number of other possible projects and equipment purchases. One such purchase includes a new dust collecting system for the woodworking room.
The Kingsport Senior Center is located at 1200 E. Center Street on the first floor and has several branch sites across town. For more information visit seniors.kingsporttn.gov.
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Kingsport Police Department
DalePhipps, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department • www.KingsportPDBlog.com |
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| NEWS RELEASE | |||
| SUBJECT: | Applications Being Accepted for the Position of Corrections Officer from February 12 through 20, 2022 (Reminder) | ||
| DATE: | February 16, 2022 | ||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE | |||
| Reminder: The deadline to apply to become a Corrections Officer with the Kingsport Police Department is this coming Sunday, February 20, 2022.
As previously released: The City of Kingsport Human Resources Department will be accepting applications for the position of Corrections Officer with the Kingsport Police Department from February 12 through 20, 2022. Individuals 18 years of age or older who are interested in a criminal justice career are encouraged to apply. Applicants are asked to only apply once, as weeding out duplicate applications hampers efficiency. Two positions are available. As Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) regulations require an equal number of male and female Corrections Officers on staff, the current openings are for one male and one female Corrections Officer. All applications must be submitted online using the following link: https://www.GovernmentJobs.com/Careers/Kingsport The starting salary for a Kingsport Police Department Corrections Officer is $14.28 per hour or $29,712.00 annually. City of Kingsport employee benefits include direct payroll deposit; paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave; employee life insurance; optional supplemental and dependent life insurance; long-term disability; health insurance; optional dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; education tuition and fitness membership reimbursements, Mission Square 401 retirement; and optional Mission Square 457 retirement. For additional information regarding the application process, please call the City of Kingsport Human Resources Department at 423-229-9401. For additional information regarding the Corrections Officer position, please call the K.P.D. Jail Administrator at 423-229-9424. |
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| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
| Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) ThomasMPatton |
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