Erwin swears in new Chief of Police

After a dozen applications were reviewed, leaders in the town of Unicoi have selected a new police chief. Cecil Hobson was sworn in by Mayor Kevin McInturff earlier this week. Hobson spent 16 years with the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, where he worked his way through the ranks from patrol deputy to detective, then lieutenant detective and captain. Hobson still plans to live in Mitchell County on his farm, where he raises horses with his wife. The department has seen significant leadership turnover since it was established almost seven years ago with one of Hobson’s first goals being to fill an open full-time patrol position at the department.