Law Enforcement - Historical Notes

Militia

The act once affecting Benton County, which related to the militia and to other law enforcement agencies other than the sheriff, is mentioned below.

Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 157, Section 3, sets a schedule for county drills for all the county militia's by amending the Militia Law of the State. Benton County was assigned to the 18th Brigade with Henry and Carroll County and musters would be conducted on the first Thursday and Friday after the first Friday and Saturday in September of each year.

Sheriff

The following acts have no current effect but are included here for reference purposes since they once applied to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 283, provided that the Sheriff of Benton County, using the population figures of the 1920 Federal Census, in addition to all the other fees of his office, shall be paid a salary of $800 per year out of the regular county funds, upon the warrant of the County Judge, or Chairman, at the rate of $66.67 a month. It was made the duty of the County Judge to initiate this warrant every month.
Private Acts of 1969, Chapter 114, stated that in all counties having a population of not less than ten thousand six hundred (10,600) nor more than ten thousand seven hundred (10,700) according to the Federal Census of 1960, the county sheriff shall be entitled to and receive the sum of Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) per year payable in twelve equal installments in accordance with Section 8-2404, Tennessee Code Annotated.