(a) Inspectors, agents, representatives or officers appointed by the commissioner shall be cloaked with and have the duty, power, and authority as sheriffs, police officers and other peace officers to enforce this part.
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Any duly authorized officer or employee of the department who has been specifically designated by the commissioner to enforce this part is authorized and empowered to go armed or carry a pistol while on active duty engaged in enforcing this part. Any such person is also authorized and empowered to execute search warrants and to do all acts incident to search warrants, in the same manner as search warrants may be executed by sheriffs, police officers and other peace officers.(c)(1) Any duly authorized agent or officer of the department of revenue who retires after twenty-five (25) years of honorable armed service shall be issued a retired commission card by the department, which shall identify the agent or officer and the fact that the agent or officer is retired. Cards issued under this subdivision (c)(1) shall bear the inscription, in print of equal or larger size than the rest of the printing on the card, the words “Not a handgun permit.” After twenty-five (25) years of honorable armed service by an authorized agent or officer of the department, the department shall authorize such agent or officer, upon retirement, to retain the agent or officer’s service weapon and badge, in recognition of the agent or officer’s many years of good and faithful public service.(2) Any authorized agent or officer of the department, who is issued a retired commission card pursuant to this subsection (c) but who has not completed twenty-five (25) years of honorable armed service, may retain the agent or officer’s service weapon and badge in recognition of the agent or officer’s years of good and faithful public service; provided, that the agent or officer reimburses the department for the cost of the service weapon and badge.(3) This subsection (c) shall be retroactive to include officers from the department of safety that were transferred to the department of revenue effective July 1, 2006.
