Former Erwin Police Chief and 2 Others Charged with Misconduct

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The former Erwin, Tennessee police chief and two other police department employees have been indicted by a grand jury on charges related to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) misconduct probe. The charges include conspiracy to commit official misconduct, official misconduct, theft over $10,000, and tampering with government records.

Why it matters

This case highlights issues of integrity and accountability within law enforcement, as the alleged actions undermine public trust and call into question the validity of officer training and qualifications. It also raises concerns about potential misuse of public funds and resources.

The details

According to the TBI, the investigation found that Regan Tilson (the former Erwin police chief), Gary Wayne Edwards (a former EPD captain), and Tiffany D. Tilson (a former EPD operations officer) conspired to submit fraudulent training documents to the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission. This allowed all EPD officers to become eligible for a salary supplement, even though the required in-service training never actually occurred.

• In December 2024, the alleged offense occurred.
• In July 2025, Regan Tilson was placed on leave from the EPD after failing a breathalyzer test.
• In December 2025, a P.O.S.T. investigator reported the expected charges against Regan Tilson to the organization's leadership.
• On March 10, 2026, the grand jury returned the indictments against the three individuals.

What’s next

The three individuals have turned themselves in and been booked into the Unicoi County Jail. The judge will determine whether to allow them to be released on bail.