Todd Shadwell Longest Serving Deputy for Sheriff’s Department

Deputy Todd Shadwell with Sheriff Michael Miller

     Deputy Todd Shadwell recently discovered he holds the distinction of being the longest serving deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.  In April, Deputy Shadwell will have worked for the department 23 years.  Deputy Shadwell learned of this distinction after a conversation with his father, Retired Deputy Terry Shadwell, who began his career with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 1978 and could not remember any deputies who had served the Sheriff’s Office for longer than 20 years.
     “I have worked all shifts and have done just about everything you can do in law enforcement,” said Shadwell.
     Over the past 23 years, Shadwell has worked with the Drug Task Force, worked as an investigator, and taught the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program.  He has worked on several murder investigations during his tenure, as well as the routine law enforcement duties.  Currently he works as a patrol deputy on the day shift.  
     Shadwell, 50, is married to Stephanie Shadwell and they have two children, Erica, 26 and Spencer, 18.  He comes from a law enforcement family following in his father Terry’s footsteps.  His father served as a Shelby County deputy for 15 years.  Shadwell also has a brother who is a deputy in Douglas County.
     Shadwell’s many years of experience have made him a valuable asset for the Sheriff’s Department.  Sheriff Michael Miller said that experience has helped many new officers learn the different aspects of law enforcement.
     “He is probably one of the best at sitting a suspect down and getting the truth out of them,” said Miller.  “He (Shadwell) has been a mentor of mine with the various techniques of interviewing witnesses and suspects.”
     Miller said Shadwell was also a huge help with setting up the weight room and workout room used by the department’s personnel.
     “Our weight room and workout room are probably as good as any gym facility in the area,” Miller said.
Shadwell said he has never had to fire his weapon nor has he been fired at, but he has had some close calls.  He recounted one case when a man who already had a conviction for murder had to be arrested on domestic violence.  He and another deputy waited for the suspect to leave the house so they could arrest him out on the road.
     “I was the first one up to him and he had a gun in his hand which he gave up.  He later told Randy (former sheriff Randy Sims) that he was really thinking about shooting one of us and having us shoot him, but changed his mind at the last minute.”
     Over the years Shadwell said the biggest changes he has seen are in the technology used by today’s officers. He said the computers and cameras in the squad cars have made a big a difference.  He also said the department has grown quite a bit over the years.
     “I have enjoyed my job as a deputy and have no immediate plans to hang up the badge.  It has been a good run for me.”

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