Blount County Republicans select David Thompson to be their next Sheriff

August 24, 2026 – BLOUNT COUNTY – The Blount County Republican Party Executive Committee met on Sunday to interview and consider the qualified candidates who have expressed interest in running for Sheriff of Blount County. They selected former Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Commander David Thompson.

Incumbent Sheriff Mark Moon had been the Republican nominee on the November 3, 2026 ballot, until he announced that he would not seek election and would resign as soon as he could find another job.

Thompson brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to the troubled Blount County Sheriff's Department.

Thompson spent twenty years with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. He formerly served as a commander of the Jefferson County Metro Area Crime Center (MACC).

Thompson is retired from Jefferson County. He is the president and CEO of Gold Star Public Safety a consulting agency on public safety matters. He has been working for the City of Hanceville following the firing of their police department for narcotics charges after a dispatcher died from a drug overdose on drugs in the evidence locker. Thompson was brought it to advise the city on how to reestablish a competent and professional police force. Thompson is currently a school resource officer in St. Clair County.

Thompson faces no Democratic or independent opponent on the November 3 ballot.

Thompson inherits a department in disarray. Two deputies were indicted last month on charges that they murdered a inmate of the Blount County jail. Another has been charged with sharing sexually explicit materials with girls as young as 12 over the internet. There are allegations that Sheriff Moon had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a paid confidential informant. There are also allegations that Moon gave special treatment to a meth trafficker friend of his and threated the Blount County District Attorney and her family. Moon also angered numerous residents for his firing of a beloved school resource officer. Building back community trust in the department will be job number one when Thompson takes over the helm as Sheriff.

Moon is still sheriff until he resigns or his current term ends.

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