←All People
Brent Gibson
Office history
Brent Gibson is a Republican candidate running for Knox County Sheriff in Tennessee's 2026 election [1]. He is a former law enforcement officer who recently retired from the Knox County Sheriffโs Office (KCSO) after more than two decades of service [2]. Gibson joined KCSO in 1999, following his graduation from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and an emphasis in criminal justice [3]. He was also a four-year letterman for the Tennessee Volunteers football team [2].
Throughout his career at KCSO, Gibson held numerous leadership positions, rising through the ranks to become Assistant Chief Deputy [3]. His roles included serving as a sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, as well as Director of Training at the KCSO Regional Training Academy and Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor [2]. From 2016 to 2022, he served as the principal firearms instructor and defensive tactics instructor at the academy, leading POST certification training for agencies throughout Tennessee [3]. Gibson also served as the SWAT Team Commander for the Knox County Special Weapons and Tactics Unit from 2018 until his retirement in 2024 [3]. He is a graduate of the 260th FBI National Academy [2].
Gibson has outlined several priorities for his campaign, including departmental transparency, fiscal responsibility, school safety, public engagement, and officer recruitment and retention [10]. He advocates for strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies to enforce immigration laws, specifically expressing interest in expanding Knox Countyโs 287(g) participation to include a task force model that would allow deputies to engage in immigration enforcement while on patrol [12]. Gibson also plans to address homelessness through "firm accountability" and Christian conservative compassion [2].
In the Republican primary for Knox County Sheriff, Gibson is competing against David Amburn, Mike Davis, and Jimmy "JJ" Jones [9]. All four candidates are veterans of KCSO or related law enforcement agencies [4]. The winner of the May 5, 2026, primary will likely win the general election, as no Democrats have filed to run for the position [10]. Gibson has participated in public debates and surveys regarding his vision for the office, emphasizing a goal to make Knox County the safest place to live in East Tennessee [4].
Sources
- [1] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
- [2] Elect Brent Gibson
- [3] Why Brent โ Elect Brent Gibson
- [4] Inside Tennessee: 2026 Knox County sheriff debate | wbir.com
- [5] Knox County Sheriff - Brent Gibson
- [9] Survey: What are you looking for in the next Knox County Sheriff? | wbir.com
- [10] Knox County sheriff candidates break down their visions, main priorities
- [12] Knox County Sheriff on the Ballot | AKIN
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record โ search by last name on each.
Tennessee โ campaign finance (search)
- State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) โ Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Gibson”, and submit.
- County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) โ most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Gibson”).
Tennessee โ statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates โ Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Gibson”and, if needed, select the applicable position.