Brent Tharpe
West Tennessee Criminal Investigator Association Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2006
Newly elected President of the West Tennessee Criminal Investigator Association - 2007
Dr. Brent Tharpe began his law enforcement career with the City of Dyersburg Police Department, in Dyersburg, TN. He served as a patrol officer, crime scene technician, senior officer on patrol, specialized investigator, and as a member of the gang task force. Working with the Department’s now-defunct Family Service Unit for ten years, Dr. Tharpe investigated all types of crimes against children including physical and sexual abuse, abductions, prostitution, deaths, pornography, and crimes committed by and against juveniles. Cases involving Elderly neglect, physical and sexual abuse, rape, stalking, and other crimes also came under his purview.
Dr. Tharpe was lead investigator in a case involving the death of a child by physical abuse. The State sought the death penalty for the child’s alleged half-sister and her boyfriend at the time; however, the couple pled to lesser charges. Dr. Tharpe was also the lead investigator in a case of child abduction where the live-in babysitter was discovered to be a man after he was arrested. V Good Films, a British production company, filmed a documentary about the case.
Before leaving his career with the Dyersburg Police Department, Dr. Tharpe founded Tharpe Consulting, a national consulting company with the mission to train law enforcement agencies and other professions who work consistently with the criminal justice system. For the past fifteen years, he has conducted law enforcement and leadership training sessions for professionals in the area of violence against women and children.
Dr. Tharpe was declared an expert in interviewing minors as a result of his testimony in the 29th District General Session Court, Judge Charles Moore presiding. On December 18, 2018, in the 24th District Circuit Court, Benton County, TN, while testifying in a case involving a child being burned, Dr. Tharpe was challenged as an expert witness. Dr. Tharpe exceeded the challenge and was determined by the court to be a burn injury expert.
Dr. Tharpe taught Criminal Justice, as an Adjunct Professor, at Dyersburg Community College. He has served as a consultant to several attorneys in preparation for court cases. Additionally, he speaks before civic and religious organizations, Scout troops, and local schools. He is committed to developing leaders for today and the future.
As a member of the West Tennessee Criminal Investigators Association (WTCIA), he was elected by his peers to serve as the president of the association. In addition, he served several years as the Association’s training officer and was awarded the WTCIA Officer of the Year award. He continues to be an active member in the Association.
Dr. Tharpe holds an Associate Degree in Justice Services from Dyersburg State Community College (Dyersburg, TN); Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN); a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Bethel University (McKenzie, TN); and a PhD from Capella University, the Harold Abel School of Psychology.
In addition to being a member of the law enforcement community for the past 26 years and earning his academic accolades, Dr. Tharpe feels that his greatest achievement is that of a husband of nearly 30 years and the proud father of two sons.