Congratulations To Law Enforcement Academy Grads!

Forty-seven law enforcement officers graduated from the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Academy on March 25. All members of class 123 are employed by area law enforcement agencies.  

Based at the college’s Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, the academy is an intensive nine-week, 480-hour program. 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 East Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Academy established at Walters State by the POST Commission. It is also part of the college’s Public Safety Center of Emphasis, a designation recognizing its outstanding record in career preparation.

Awards were given recognizing outstanding performance in the academy as follows:

• Academic Award: Robert McKay of the Johnson City Police Department

• Defensive and Tactical Driving Award: William Ervin, Greeneville Police Department,

• Defensive Tactics: Samantha Delduca, ETSU Department of Public Safety,

• Firearms: Jordan Stallard, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office

• Athletic Award: Tyvon Gentry, Vanderbilt University Police Department

• David Purkey Leadership Award: Samantha Delduca, ETSU Department of Public Safety

• Charles Edward Baskette Memorial Award for Courage and Determination: Joshua Cope, Morristown Police Department

• Tennessee Sheriff’s Association Award: Kenneth Silas, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office

• Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Award: David Mathis, Johnson City Police Department. 

Graduates are:

From Campbell County: Shayne Hurney of Lafollette, Jellico Police Department.

From Cheatham County: Dallas Brooks of Ashland City, Gallatin Police Department; and Daniel Clark of Pleasant View, Gallatin Police Department. 

From Cocke County: Dakoda Cardwell of Cosby, Pigeon Forge Police Department; Alex Reese of Del Rio, Newport Police Department; and Richard Hoover of Newport, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office.

From Coffee County: Tyler Penrod of Manchester, Franklin Police Department; Brandi Johnson of Manchester, Vanderbilt University Police Department; and Samantha Delduca of Tullahoma, ETSU Department of Public Safety.

From Cumberland County: Shane Henderson and Ronald Peck, both of Crossville and both with Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

From Davidson County: Tyvon Gentry of Goodlettsville, Vanderbilt University Police Department; Derek Akin of Hermitage, Gallatin Police Department; Ryan Ebenal, Shannon McVey and Wintrust Paul, all of Nashville and all with Vanderbilt Police Department. 

From Dekalb County: Jasmine Garza of Alexandria, Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office.

From Fentress County: Levi Thoman of Pall Mall, Pickett County Sheriff’s Office.

From Grainger County: Hunter Bowles of Bean Station, Morristown Police Department; and Jennifer Luckes of Thorn Hill, Lincoln Memorial University Police Department.

From Hamblen County: Edward Lindblom of Morristown, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office; and Joshua Cope of Morristown, Morristown Police Department. 

From Jefferson County: Joseph Bailey of Dandridge, Morristown Police Department; Tyler Allen of Strawberry Plains, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; and Dustin Carter of White Pine, Morristown Police Department.

From Lawrence County: Will Nichols of Lawrenceburg, Ethridge Police Department. 

From Maury County: Samuel Deloach, Andrew Garcia and Shane Large, all of Spring Hill and all with the Franklin Police Department.

From Sevier County: Tyler Pinkard and Garrett Roe, both of Gatlinburg and both with the Gatlinburg Police Department; Ryan Myers and Corey Toney, both of Sevierville and both with the Gatlinburg Police Department; Adam Greene of Seymour, Gatlinburg Police Department; Nikki Moore of Seymour, Pigeon Forge Police Department; and Ethan Robinson of Seymour, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.

From Summer County: Craig Murray of Gallatin, Gallatin Police Department.

From Sullivan County: Jacob Dial of Blountville, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Julian Riojas of Bristol, Bristol (Tennessee) Police Department; Kenneth Silas and Jordan Stallard, both of Kingsport and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. 

From Unicoi County: Shawn Phillips of Erwin, Johnson City Police Department.

From Union County: Billy Harrison of Luttrell, Union County Sheriff’s Office.

From Washington County: David Mathis of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department. Robert McKay of Jonesborough, Johnson City Police Department; and William Ervin of Limestone, Greeneville Police Department.

From Wayne County: Michael Scott of Waynesboro, Waynesboro Police Department.