Class 126 Completes Academy
December 3, 2022
Forty-nine cadets graduated from the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training
Academy on Dec. 1. These cadets mark the 126th class to graduate from the Academy.
Based at the college’s Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, the academy is an intensive
nine-week program providing over 500 hours of training. Upon completion, students
are awarded the technical certificate in Basic Law Enforcement Officer Education and
are eligible to apply for certification by the Police Officers Standards and Training
Commission as a certified peace officer in the state of Tennessee after being employed
by a law enforcement agency.
The program is part of the Regional Law Enforcement Training Center, established at
Walters State by the POST Commission and is part of the college’s Public Safety Center
of Emphasis, a designation recognizing its outstanding record in career preparation.
The following awards were presented during the graduation ceremony:
• Academic Award: David Wilson of Bradley County, East Ridge Police Department.
• Defensive Tactics: Jeremiah Barnes of Morristown, Jefferson City Police Department.
• Firearms: Douglas Baldwin of Morristown, Morristown Police Department.
• Charles Edward Baskette Memorial Award for Courage and Determination: Kathleen Stidham
of Bean Station, Grainger County Sheriff’s Office.
• Best Athlete: Tyler Wicken of Nashville, Vanderbilt Police Department.
• Defensive and Tactical Driving: Hannah Kinkead of Jefferson City, Morristown Police
Department.
• David Purkey Leadership Award: Austin Rossette of Hendersonville, Gallatin Police
Department.
• Outstanding Student: Jamison Nash of Primm Springs, Hickman County Sheriff’s Office.
• Award Given By Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police: Jaylon Strayhorn of Kingsport,
Kingsport Police Department.
• Award Given by the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association: Christopher Rush of Kingsport,
Sevier County Sheriff’s Association.
GRADUATES LISTED BY COUNTY WITH HIRING AGENCY WHERE APPLICABLE
ALCOA COUNTY: Shadoe Smith of Maryville, Oak Ridge Police Department.
ANDERSON COUNTY: Joshua Edwards of Clinton, Oak Ridge Police Department. Madalyn Gallegos-Gelein
of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department.
BRADLEY COUNTY: David Wilson of Cleveland, East Ridge Police Department.
CAMPBELL COUNTY: Nicholas Lowe of Jellico, Jellico Police Department.
CARTER COUNTY: Devin Higgins of Erwin, Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY: Kaleb Wright of Tazewell, Union County Sheriff’s Office.
DAVIDSON COUNTY: Austin Parman of Nashville, Vanderbilt University Police Department;
Beverly Wallace of Nashville, Vanderbilt Police Department; Tyler Wicken of Nashville,
Vanderbilt Police Department.
GRAINGER COUNTY: Katherine Stidham of Bean Station, Grainger County Sheriff’s Office;
Christopher Shofner of Rutledge, Jefferson City Police Department.
HAMBLEN COUNTY: Cody Malone of Morristown, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office; Douglas
Baldwin of Morristown, Morristown Police Department; Jason Cobb of Morristown, Morristown
Police Department; Mark McBee of Morristown, Morristown Police Department; Joseph Dinwiddie of Talbott, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office; Jeremiah Barner of Morristown,
Jefferson City Police Department.
HAMILTON COUNTY: Alex Ackermannn of Chattanooga, East Ridge Police Department.
HAWKINS COUNTY: Raymond McDonald of Church Hill, Kingsport Police Department.
HICKMAN COUNTY: Jamison Nash of Primm Springs, Hickman County Sheriff’s Office.
JEFFERSON COUNTY: Hannah Kinkead of Jefferson City, Morristown Police Department;
KNOX COUNTY: Zachary Hughes of Corryton, Union County Sheriff’s Office; Tyler Ketchie
of Knoxville, University of Tennessee Medical Center Security.
PICKET COUNTY: Keyton Dowdy and Lance Miller, both of Byrdstown and both employed
by the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office.
SCOTT COUNTY: Michael Hanson of Helenwood, Oak Ridge Police Department.
SEVIER COUNTY: Austin Wagner of Kodak, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Garrett Jordan
of Sevierville, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Christopher Rush of Sevierville, Sevier
County Sheriff’s Office; Garet Loveday of Sevierville, Sevierville Police Department;
SMITH COUNTY: Guy Barnby of Carthage, Gallatin Police Department.
SULLIVAN COUNTY: Kaley Rosenbaum of Blountville, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office;
Dan Perry of Bluff City, Northeast State Police Department; John Hansen of Bristol,
Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Christopher Good of Kingsport, Kingsport Police
Department; Jaylon Strayhorn, Kingsport, Kingsport Police Department; Trevor Gilliam,
Kingsport, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
SUMNER COUNTY: William Beaman of Gallatin, Gallatin Police Department; Michael Thomas
of Gallatin, Vanderbilt University Police Department; Austin Rosette of Hendersonville,
Gallatin Police Department; Christopher Wicking of White House, Gallatin Police Department.
UNION COUNTY: Linette Rodriquez of Maynardville, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office; Caleb
Rhodes of Sharps Chapel, Union County Sheriff’s Office.
OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS
GEORGIA: Alan Resendiz of Dalton, East Ridge Police Department.
KENTUCKY: Joseph McCulley of Williamsburg, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.
VIRGINIA: Raymond Torres of Bristol, Northeast State Police Department; Eric Dupuie
of Castlewood, Kingsport Police Department.