HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – A former Morristown Police officer has been sworn in as the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s newest Agricultural Crime Unit investigator.

Shane Ratliff still lives in Hamblen County with his wife and son. The Church Hill native is a graduate of Volunteer High School and holds a degree in criminal justice and political science from East Tennessee State University.

During his time with the MPD he worked with a number of its units with duties related to patrol, the special response team, honor guard, fugitive apprehension, instructional and school resource. He also served as an investigator with the Tennessee Department of Children Services’ Child Protective Services Unit.

“We’re fortunate to have someone of Shane’s experience and education to step into this important role,” Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens said in a news release. “Rural areas have their own unique public safety challenges, and I’m pleased that we can field a team of highly qualified individuals like Shane to work with local law enforcement.”

The ACU focuses on a number of activities affecting rural safety including regulatory enforcement, livestock theft and woodland arson. The unit has statewide jurisdiction and works closely with county and local law enforcement agencies.

Ratliff will serve in the nearly one dozen counties across East Tennessee and the Upper Cumberland that were previous served by Marianne Cheaves. They include Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Morgan, Pickett, Roane, Scott and Union counties.

"He has worked and lived in the East Tennessee area for quite a while,” said ACU Chief Max Thomas. “I think he'll be a great asset to the community and to the counties he'll be serving up there."