Members of the Crossville Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office have been alerted to what is being considered a credible threat against all Tennessee peace officers.

An alert was issued through Cumberland County Dispatch regarding reported hits ordered by members of the Vice Lords gang against all state law-enforcement personnel. Officers and deputies are advised to use extreme caution.

Following is the text of a message posted late last night to Facebook: “All units use extra caution.. calls intercepted by Morgan Co and NW Corrections that indicate the VICE Lord gang has put a hit out on all TN Law Enforcement and Corrections. Any and all calls could be a set up or ambush. Please be alert and wear vests. This was confirmed by CPD department head per 5512. – From: Cumberland Co 911”

Founded in 1953, the Vice Lords – short for The Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) – is one of the oldest street gangs in the Chicago, Illinois, area. It is also the second-largest gang, boasting a total membership between 30,000 and 35,000. AVLN is also a founding member of the multi-gang alliance, People Nation.

According to reports from a corrections officer at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, that facility has been on lockdown since Thursday.

This is a developing story and additional information will be released as it becomes available.