Newport Native Named Gatlinburg Police Chief

The City of Gatlinburg announced on Thursday that they have a new police chief. Longtime Gatlinburg officer Captain Ronnie Barrett will take over as police chief effective June 2. He replaces current Chief Randy Brackins who is retiring. City Manager Cindy Cameron OIgle made that announcement yesterday afternoon. Ronnie Barrett, who is originally from Newport, has been with the Gatlinburg police department for 27 years. Barrett has served as a Captain with the Department since 2018 and recently was one of 237 law enforcement officers across the country to attend the 284th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. That was in December 2022.