Tennessee Code Title 29. Remedies and Special Proceedings § 29-20-406

(a) A governmental entity may insure any or all of its employees against all or any part of their liability for injury or damage resulting from a negligent act or omission, and any expenditure for such insurance is herewith declared to be for a public purpose, and may be paid from funds derived from the tax levy authorized in § 29-20-402.

(b) Any sheriff or group of sheriffs is authorized to purchase insurance or enter into agreements to insure such sheriff and any or all of the sheriff's employees against all or any part of their personal liability for injury or damages arising as a result of the act or omission of any such sheriff or employee. This authority to purchase insurance or enter into agreements to insure includes specifically the authority to establish a separate legal or administrative entity to effectuate any such agreements or, if a separate legal or administrative entity is not established, to designate an entity to effectuate the purposes of this subsection (b). Any such purchase or any such agreement which would involve the expenditure of county funds must first be approved by the county legislative body.