ABOUT
Sheriff Ricky Pollard
ABOUT ME
Ricky Pollard has more than 21 years of dedicated law enforcement service with the Shelby County Sheriff Department. As a professional county servant, he has built a distinguished career rooted in operational excellence, leadership, and strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the departmental, state, and federal levels.
Beginning his career as a Shelby County Reserve Deputy, he then transitioned to patrol, advancing through the ranks and serving as a Sergeant for over a decade, where he has consistently demonstrated leadership and accountability. In this role, he also served as a Field Training Officer (FTO), mentoring and developing new deputies to ensure high standards of performance and professionalism.
Currently, Ricky Pollard manages the Shelby County Fugitive Division, commanding and supervising patrol personnel responsible for executing fugitive warrants across the county. In addition, he is a recognized K-9 SWAT Bomb Dog Handler with over 12 years of service in this specialized unit. During this unit, his responsibilities include conducting monthly bond drills with K-9 units, performing routine equipment inspections, and supporting high-risk operations that require advanced tactical coordination.
Pollard’s professional training includes completion of Crisis Intervention Training, earning the designation of Certified Crisis, which equipped him to effectively manage individuals in crises. He also participates annually in State-required In-Service Training, ensuring continued compliance with evolving law enforcement policies and procedures. Additionally, he has completed annual law enforcement and firearm recertifications for over 21 years, maintaining operational readiness throughout their career.
Over the course of more than 10 of his 21+ years with the Sheriff Department, Ricky Pollard served as a Sheriff Supervisor in multiple court settings, including General Sessions Court and Criminal Court, as well as having a role overseeing Homeland Facility operations and disciplinary law procedures.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is one of the largest sheriff’s departments in the State of Tennessee, employing over 1,500 deputies. The department is responsible for housing approximately 3,000 inmates pending trial and for the execution of fugitive warrants throughout the county.
Ricky Pollard is an established leader within this large and complex organization and plays a critical role in ensuring operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and public safety—devoted to protecting the community and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the people of Shelby County.
MISSION STATEMENT
To protect the people of Shelby County by reducing violent crime, supporting lawful and accountable enforcement at every level, operating a safe and constitutional jail, and leading the Sheriff’s Office with professionalism, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
VISION STATEMENT
A safer Shelby County where violent crime is reduced, opportunity replaces cycles of poverty, deputies are properly trained and supported, the jail provides secure and professional care—including mental health services—and the law is enforced fairly and equally, with no one above it.