Meet Chief Ryan White - Carroll County Sheriff Candidate

Chief White is a dedicated law enforcement professional with 25 years of service and a career distinguished by leadership, integrity, and commitment to community safety. He began his law enforcement career as a Reserve Deputy with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. He was later hired as a full-time officer with the McKenzie Police Department, where he built his career and advanced through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Chief of Police.

During his tenure with the department, he has served as Corporal, Sergeant, Administration Sergeant, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief, and Chief of Police. Throughout his career, Chief White has gained extensive experience in patrol, investigations, narcotics enforcement, training, and administration. His specialized assignments have included K-9 Officer, Evidence Custodian, Narcotics Investigator, General Investigator, Clan Lab Technician and Site Safety Officer, Driving School Instructor, Firearms Instructor, and General Departmental Instructor (GDI).

For the past three and a half years as Chief of Police, he has been responsible for developing, managing, and overseeing departmental budgets, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources while maintaining high standards of public safety and operational effectiveness. His administrative experience includes strategic planning, personnel management, fiscal oversight, and working closely with city leadership to meet the needs of both the department and the community.

Committed to professional growth and leadership development, Chief White completed First Line Leadership training in 2014, graduated from the Southeastern Leadership Academy (SELA) in 2017, and graduated from the Carroll County Leadership Academy in 2025. He is currently participating in the WESTSTAR Leadership Program.

In addition to his law enforcement duties, Chief White is actively involved in his community and professional organizations. He is a member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the McKenzie Rotary Club.

Drawing on a quarter-century of law enforcement experience, Chief White continues to lead with a focus on public safety, professional excellence, fiscal responsibility, and strong community partnerships.

Chief White is seeking the position of Carroll County Sheriff to serve all of Carroll County by implementing community programs and technology upgrades that have proven successful during his tenure as police chief.

By implementing county-wide zoning to reduce response times, improving transparency through the use of body cameras, prioritizing education through continued deputy training and greater communication with the public, Chief White aims to raise the bar, holding the department to a higher standard of public service.

Chief White plans to implement each piece of his plan for a better department while saving taxpayers money through grants, cleaning up the county through aggressive drug enforcement, and implementing greater mental health services and “second chance” life skills programs for inmates to stop the “revolving door” of recidivism.

Finally, Chief White plans to expand the successful “Shop with a First Responder” program to meet the needs of all of Carroll County’s financially disadvantaged youth because every child deserves to experience the magic of Christmastime.

I humbly ask for your vote on August 6, 2026.