The Alcoa Police Department announced Saturday Captain Keith Fletcher passed away. He suffered a sudden and unexpected medical emergency while off duty back on April 17, 2021.

He had a successful career in criminal justice for over 30 years, beginning at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 thru 1993. In 1993, he moved to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol officer until 2000.

Fletcher began his career at the Alcoa Police Department in 2000 as a patrol officer.  Since 2000 he has worked as a field training officer, field training supervisor patrol shift supervisor, sergeant, lieutenant community services, and served as the departmental training officer until his promotion to captain in January 2020.

He is remembered as an employee that has “demonstrated excellent leadership abilities” and “takes personal pride in managing special projects and does what is needed to make the project successful”.  He “leads by example and will not ask others to perform functions he will not do himself.”

Captain Fletcher worked with his team of school resource officers on developing a safety strategy for city as well as private schools in Alcoa.

He received his Associate of Applied Sciences in 2009 and his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, (Summa Cum Laude, 4.0 GPA) in 2013.

During his career, he received numerous commendations and awards, including the Police Chief’s Commendation in 2012 and Supervisor of the Year in 2015 and 2018.