When the Kingsport Police Department’s Command Staff sit down together to make an important decision, they bring over 130 years of combined law enforcement experience to the table. Each of these individuals has a specific skill-set giving them a unique perspective. Together they manage the Kingsport Police Department and serve as an advisory panel to assist the Chief of Police with any significant developments. It is the mission of the K.P.D. Command Staff to provide the citizens of Kingsport with a professional law enforcement agency founded on the principles of Courage, Integrity, and Justice.
Chief Dale Phipps received his Associate of Science in Law Enforcement and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University. He is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy. He was sworn in at the Kingsport Police Department in 1988 and served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, and Supervisor of the Vice Unit before eventually returning to the Patrol Division as a Watch Commander. Throughout the years he has served in several specialized roles including S.W.A.T. Operator, Community Relations and Crime Prevention Officer, and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Instructor. He was highly instrumental in the department’s decision to field Tasers as an additional less lethal option, both conducting the research and writing the policy that governs their use. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in May of 2007 and has commanded both the Administrative and Operations Bureaus. In March 2021, he was selected to become the 15th Chief of Police of the Kingsport Police Department.
The Deputy Chief position is currently vacant due to recent promotions but will be filled soon.
Commander Jason Bellamy received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice and Sociology from East Tennessee State University. He then went on to earn his Masters of Education, also from E.T.S.U. Before joining the Kingsport Police Department in 1998, Commander Bellamy worked for Frontier Health as a Crisis Clinician and served as a Reserve Officer for the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy and the National Forensic Academy. During his tenure at K.P.D. he has served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Training Sergeant, Watch Commander, and Captain of Operations. He was promoted to Commander in May of 2014 and currently commands both the Operations and Administrative Bureaus as well as overseeing the departmental budget process.
Captain Mike Roark received his Associate of Science in Law Enforcement and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University. While attending E.T.S.U. he was actively involved in the R.O.T.C. Program. He later served 14 years in the United States Army Reserves. Captain Roark joined the Kingsport Police Department in 1985 and has dedicated his entire career to Patrol. During his tenure at the department, he has served as a Watch Commander, supervised the Directed Patrol Unit, and lead the K.P.D. Honor Guard Team. He was promoted to Captain in June of 2014 and currently oversees the department’s Operations Bureau.
Captain Randall Gore received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He was sworn in as a Kingsport Police Officer in 1994 and has since served with the department in several roles including Patrol Officer, Community Police, and Accreditation Manager. He has supervisory experience in the Training Unit, K-9 Unit, and Patrol Division. While a Lieutenant, he commanded several divisions of the Administrative Bureau including the Records Division and the Quartermaster/Evidence Unit. Captain Gore is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy. He was promoted to Captain in April 2016 and currently oversees the Administrative Bureau.