Official complaint filed in Knox Sheriff's race

Randy Tyree, the Democratic candidate for Knox County Sheriff, filed an official complaint about his opponent Sheriff J.J. Jones Thursday. Tyree said there is a problem with pictures on Jones' campaign website.

"It's a subtle form of intimidation. It's unprofessional and we fully intend to change that," Randy Tyree said.

The website shows several pictures. Two of the photos show Jones with uniformed employees.

Randy Tyree points to Knox County Code Section 42-64. It says, "No person holding a position in the classified service shall take an active part in any political campaign while on duty...".

Tyree said the pictures show 14 classified employees. A spokesperson for Sheriff Jones said she couldn't say whether the employees were classified.

"J.J. just says, if you've got a problem with that--I don't think I'm guilty--if you have a problem with that-- file a complaint with the Merit Council," Tyree said.

Thursday morning, that is just what Tyree did. He filed a complaint with the Merit System Council office for the Sheriff's Office. Director Gary Hall said a three person board will decide if there's a violation.

"I'll get in touch with the council members, see when they can meet, and I would notify him of a time and place and we will go from there," Hall said.

Sheriff Jones was out of the office on business, but offered a press release in response to Tyree's claims.

"Once again, Randy has run out of money and issues. He continues to try and hide the fact that he has little or no law enforcement experience and the fact that he has a past of mismanaging money. Putting him in charge of a $60 million budget is like putting a fox in a hen house," Jones wrote.

The Sheriff's campaign website also took some political shots at Tyree--pointing to city layoffs in 1982 when Tyree was Knoxville Mayor. Tyree said that was unprofessional.

Click here to view Sheriff J.J. Jones' campaign website.Click here to view Randy Tyree's campaign website.