Ben Baird

Ben Baird, former LaFollette chief of police, died May, 25, 2026, at the age of 80. A LaFollette native, Bard joined the police department as a patrol officer in 1973 after graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He then moved quickly through the ranks, serving as a sergeant, assistant chief, and was finally prompted to chief in 2003. He served as chief of police until his retirement in 2009. In addition to his 36-year career in law enforcement, Baird held a bachelor’s degree in history from Cumberland College, teaching elementary grades from 1967 to 1976. When Campbell County High School opened in 1976, he was hired as a special education teacher and taught for 24 years, retiring in 2000 as special education administrator.