According to 2025 TBI numbers, the local crime rate remains manageable and consistent with previous years despite population increases.
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said the county currently maintains a population of approximately 90,000 residents with an additional 20,000 to 30,000 people entering the jurisdiction daily, some of those, to commit drug crimes.
“Most violent crimes thrive off and derive off of illegal drug trade,” Farris said. “So that is really where we stay focused and and you see throughout we focus really heavily on the drug illegal drug activity here in Putnam County.”
Farris said approximately 85 percent of individuals incarcerated in Tennessee and across the nation are held due to illegal drug activity or crimes indirectly caused by drugs. Farris said the department prioritizes relationships with the TBI, FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration to combat organized drug trade involving individuals traveling from outside the county.
“We stay focused and a lot of those folks are in organizations. They’re they’re somewhat organized to to do the drug trade,” Farris said, “As our population goes up, these numbers will increase to adjust for whatever population we’ve got. To be honest with you those numbers are what I would consider relatively low compared to the numbers that we have here.”
Farris said the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported 1,078 Group A offenses in 2025 with a clearance rate of 25 percent. Farris said this rate is significantly higher than the national average, which typically ranges between 10 and 15 percent.
“What that says is is we’ve either made an arrest in in the the case that was reported or the case wasn’t what it appeared to be as it when it was reported,” Farris said. “So that’s really what it tells us.”
Farris said the agency recorded 58 aggravated assaults and 150 simple assaults, noting that these figures have remained steady over time. Farris said many of the violent crimes investigated locally, including the average of two to five homicides per year, are often linked to domestic situations or narcotics.
Farris said the department encourages residents to report any suspicious activity to help law enforcement address potential issues before they escalate. Farris said the agency intentionally errs on the side of caution, particularly during domestic violence calls, to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
“We would rather deal with a minor issue or an issue that may be not an issue at all on the front end versus something that’s really got out of hand,” Farris said. “So a little bit of that is skewed probably.”
Farris said the department receives information from larger cities regarding criminal trends that may move toward the Upper Cumberland region. Farris said having a proactive plan to stop or combat these influences is essential to maintaining the safety of the community.
“People keep coming to live here so we’re doing something right,” Farris said.