The Kingsport Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit was officially formed in 2014 with the goal of unifying several pre-existing divisions of the department under one central umbrella for the purpose of maintaining nationally recognized standards of excellence in law enforcement. The divisions of the department that make up the Professional Standards Unit include the Training Division, the Internal Affairs Division, the Accreditation Manager, and the Public Information Officer.

Lieutenant Chris Tincher served five years in the United States Marine Corps before receiving his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University. While a student at E.T.S.U. he participated in a field experience internship at the Kingsport Police Department. Impressed by this opportunity, he officially joined K.P.D. as a Patrol Officer in 1998 after his graduation. He soon found his niche in the Criminal Investigations Division where he served as a Detective, specializing in Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations and serving as a C.I.D. supervisor. While assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division he had the opportunity to attend the National Forensic Academy. He also serves as a firearms instructor and the department’s Range Master. He was promoted to Lieutenant in June of 2014 and currently oversees the department’s Professional Standards Unit.