Knox County Schools Security Division

The Knox County School Security Division are Special Deputies bonded by the Knox County Sheriff's Office. The Division is the primary force protection unit for Knox County Schools charged with the security and safety of staff and students within the district. The unit specializes in rapid response and school protection, committed to Excellence in Service and dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe and secure learning environment within all schools. The unit maintains regular and specialized training throughout the calendar year, and with over 100 men and women serving, it is one of the largest dedicated school security forces in Tennessee. Training is based on the state's curriculum on Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), recruits must go through an intensive academy and keep up with established threshold standards to maintain continued service. Chief Gus Paidousis Gus Paidousis was appointed Chief of Security for the Knox County Schools in May of 2013. Having served the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) for more than 30 years, Paidousis has served in many positions of great responsibility, including most recently as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division. He has also served as Deputy Chief of the Patrol Division and Deputy Chief of the Support Services Division. He was involved in the development of the department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) program and assisted with the selection and assignment of KPD’s first School Resource Officers. Paidousis is considered an expert on Amber Alert systems and strategies to prevent and address the abduction and exploitation of children. Paidousis holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, both conferred by East Tennessee State University. He has also completed study at the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.