Major Denton is a lifelong resident of Warren County, who began his law enforcement career in August 1981 with the Warren County Sheriffs Department. Major Denton worked as a dispatcher/jailer and briefly as a street officer with the sheriffs department before accepting a patrol position with the McMinnville Police Department in June of 1982. In 1983 he graduated with top academic and physical training honors from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He spent almost five years as a patrolman before being promoted to shift-sergeant in 1986. In 1998, he was assigned as Lieutenant Detective, in charge of day to day operations of the Criminal Investigative Division. Denton was promoted to Captain in 2001 and served in that position until he was promoted to the rank of Major in 2006, as commander of the Uniform Division.
Major Denton has also served as department training officer, grant writer and manager and past sponsor of the local law enforcement explorer program. He is involved in the community as a member of the Foster Care Review Board and served 10 years as a member of the Families in Crisis Board of Directors. Major Denton has served as President of the local Fraternal Order of Police, the Morrison Elementary PTO and the McMinnville Noon Exchange Club. He has been recognized as “Officer of the Year” by the Fraternal Order of Police, Families in Crisis and the McMinnville Jaycees. In addition to his duties in the police department he also serves in an elected position, representing the 6th Civil District on the Warren County Commission.