Sean Patterson

Chief Sean Patterson was promoted to Chief of the University of Tennessee Police Department in November 2023. He originally joined UTPD in 2020 as Assistant Chief following a 21-year career with the New York Police Department, where he retired at the rank of lieutenant.

During his tenure with the NYPD, Patterson served as training coordinator for the Emergency Service Unit, which conducts tactical and technical rescues including high-angle rope operations, water rescues, and vehicle extrications. Since 2015, he has also served as safety officer for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, directing an interagency task force responsible for route security and overseeing the safe operation of 18 large helium balloons, smaller balloons, and floats.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Patterson is a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer with 22 years of service, including deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait, and Iraq. A Staten Island, New York native, he comes from a family dedicated to public service in law enforcement and healthcare.