Class 131 Completes Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy

Walters State Community College celebrated the graduation of Class 131 of the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy on March 14. Fifty-eight cadets completed the course.

Based at the college’s Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, the academy is an intensive nine-week course, providing over 500 hours of training. Upon completion, students are awarded the technical certificate in Basic Law Enforcement Officer Education. Once employed by a law enforcement agency, graduates are eligible to apply for certification by the Police Officers Standards and Training Commission as a certified peace officer in the state of Tennessee.

The academy was established at Walters State by the POST Commission. It also is part of the college’s Public Safety Center of Emphasis, a designation recognizing its outstanding record in career preparation.

Awards were given to outstanding students in established disciplines.
Academic Award: Trent Holtzleicer, Gallatin Police Department.
Outstanding Student Award: Orvis Saxby Jr. of Clarksville.
Defensive Tactics Award: William Tully, Kingsport Police Department.
Firearms: Christopher Fernandez, Mt. Juliet Police Department.
Charles Edward Baskette Memorial Award for Courage and Determination: Alexander McCoy, Middlesboro, Kentucky.
Beth Athlete: Trent Holtzleicer, Gallatin Police Department.
Defensive and Tactical Driving: Jonathan Owings, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
David Purkey Leadership Award: Dennis Skowronski, Johnson City Police Department.
Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Award: Corey Cameron, Oak Ridge Police Department.
Tennessee Sheriff’s Association Award: Cesar Saldivar, Robertson County Sheriff’s Award.

Members of Class 131 are listed below by county of residence.

Anderson County: Dylan Rains of Andersonville, Oak Ridge Police Department.
Blount County: Quayvaughn McCollum of Alcoa, Gatlinburg Police Department.
Cocke County: Trevor Starnes of Newport, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office; Hunter Strom of Parrottsville, Newport Police Department.
Davidson County: Thomas Taylor of Hermitage, Tennessee State University Police Department; Huston Callaway of Nashville, Gallatin Police Department; Christian Crook of Nashville, Springfield Police Department.
Dickson County: Kenneth Cook of Dickson, Tennessee State University Police Department.
Greene County: Thomas Taylor of Greeneville, Greeneville Police Department.
Hamblen County: Chelsea Brown of Morristown, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office; Cody Gibson of Morristown, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office.
Hawkins County: Nathaniel Shannon of Mount Carmel, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Israel Thorne of Rogersville, Morristown Police Department; Lucas Umbarger of Rogersville, Kingsport Police Department.
Jackson County: Margaret Caudill of Gainesboro, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office; Jonathan Owings of Gainesboro, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Jefferson County: Shawn Castro of Dandridge, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Dakota Johnson of Strawberry Plains, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. 
Knox County: Macy Brown of Knoxville, Oak Ridge Police Department; Philip Krein of Powell, Oak Ridge Police Department.
Loudon County: Corey Cameron of Lenoir City, Oak Ridge Police Department.
Montgomery County: Oscar Garcia of Clarksville, Robertson County Sheriff’s Office; Orvis Saxby Jr. of  Clarksville, student.
Pickett County: Joseph Britt of Byrdstown, Pickett County Sheriff’s Office.
Robertson County: Gailon Hodges III of Cottontown, Gallatin Police Department; Cameron Smith of Orlinda, Springfield Police Department; Rebecca Kroger of Portland, Springfield Police Department. Cesar Saldivar of Springfield, Robertson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sevier County: Mickey Loyd of Sevierville, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; William Macklin of Sevierville, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Trevor Maples of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge Police Department; Denton McMahan of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge Police Department.
Sullivan County: David Bajuscak of Bluff City, Bluff City Police Department; Jacey McCray of Bristol, Bristol (Tennessee) Police Department; Zachary Calhoun of Fall Branch, Kingsport Police Department; Kenneth Copas of Kingsport, Kingsport Police Department; Eugene Diaz of Kingsport, Johnson City Police Department; Shawn Jordan of Kingsport, Johnson City Police Department; Jacob Colvin of Piney Flats, Johnson City Police Department.
Sumner County: Trent Holtzleicer of Castalian Springs, Gallatin Police Department; Kasim Barnes of Gallatin, Gallatin Police Department; Ryan Farrell of Gallatin, Gallatin Police Department.
Unicoi County: Zachary Moody of Unicoi, Johnson City Police Department.
Washington County: Travis Day of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Matthew Hoyt of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Grayson Leake of Johnson City, Greeneville Police Department; Jacob Rice of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Dennis Skowronski of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; William Tully, Johnson City, Kingsport Police Department. David Arendse of Jonesborough, Johnson City Police Department; Terry Atkinson of Jonesborough, Johnson City Police Department.
Wayne County: Tyler Butler of Collinwood, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; Anthony Peden of Collinwood, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Wilson County: Jason Kirkpatrick of Lebanon, Mt. Juliet Police Department; Devin Long of Lebanon, Mt. Juliet Police Department; Christopher Fernandez of Mt. Juliet, Mt. Juliet Police Department. 

Other states: 
Kentucky: Jason Gambrel and Alexander McCoy, both of Middlesboro, both students.