11-03-2025
Sevierville Police lieutenant dedicated to building trust one person at a time
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Stopping a driver going the wrong way down a one-way road before an accident happens is how the day began for Lt. Rebecca Cowan, Sevierville Police Department's Community Resource Commander.
She is on a mission to help the people she serves. When she's in her cruiser, she's patrolling with a purpose, making regular visits to Sevier County Food Ministries. At the warehouse, she takes time to bow her head during the morning prayer, thinking of those she's come to help by picking up a grocery cart full of food to take to those in need.
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'Rebecca has the biggest heart that you could ever imagine. She looks out for a lot of people and no one realizes how much she knows about our community and who needs help,' said Sevier County Food Ministries Director Jim Davis.
Cowan not only hand delivers food to people, like Teresa Branham, she makes sure she knows them and knows their stories.
'She takes time out of her real busy day to call me at least twice a day,' Branham said. 'It means the world to me because my family lives in Michigan and my daughter lives in Kentucky and I don't know what I'd do without her.'
Cowan is building trust in the community one person at a time. It's not always easy.
'What breaks my heart is when I'm eating at a restaurant and I hear a family say, 'you need to act better or that cop's going to take you to jail.' It just breaks my heart because if that child is in trouble, they're not going to go to the police.'
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Cowan has received recognition from the state for her work in child safety as a certified car seat instructor, and too many awards to count for other leadership roles inside the department and out.
'I want to see a difference,' she said. 'I want to help people.'
Cowan's commitment has earned the respect of Chief Joseph Manning and her fellow officers who worked together to nominate her as one of WATE's Remarkable Women of 2025.
'She is an outstanding police officer. She is a great communicator for our city. She represents Sevierville in the best way,' Manning said.
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Cowan was also instrumental in getting a state law passed to increase punishment for shoplifters caught with tools to help them with their crimes; so-called 'booster bags' and tools to remove sensors. She also chairs the Sevier County Relay for Life every year, and organizes other community events to encourage a positive relationship with police.
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