Class 137 Completes Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy

The 55 cadets of Class 137 have completed the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Academy Is An Intensive, Nine-Week Course

Class 137 of the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy was honored during a graduation ceremony held on Sept. 18. Fifty-five cadets are now ready to serve and protect.

Chief Greg Coker of the Walters State Campus Police Department delivered the commencement address.

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. Credits earned during the academy may be applied to the college’s associate of applied science in law enforcement. 

Ten awards were presented during the graduation ceremony.
Academic Award – Peyton Dugger, Johnson City Police Department
Self-Sponsored Student Award – Joseph Gonzalez of Tazewell
Defensive Tactics Award – Alex Adams, Smyrna Police Department
J.R. Ensor Firearms Award – Troy Bain of Smithville
Charles Edward Baskette Award for Courage and Determination – Michael Mendelson, 
     Tri-Cities Airport Authority
Best Athlete – Claude Wilson, LaFollette Police Department
Defensive and Tactical Driving Award – Clinton Hutchinson, LaFollette Police Department
Commissioner David Purkey Leadership Award – David Richey, Greeneville Police Department
Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Award – Kody Justiss, Johnson City Police Department
Tennessee Sheriff’s Associate Award – Anthony Maldonado, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Graduates are listed below by county of residence.
BLOUNT COUNTY: Brandon Miller of Maryville, Oak Ridge Police Department.
CAMPBELL COUNTY: Claude Wilson of LaFollette, LaFollette Police Department; Clinton Hutchins of Pioneer, LaFollette Police Department.
CARROLL COUNTY: Jake McDaniel of McKenzie, Greenfield Police Department.
CARTER COUNTY: Peyton Dugger of Elizabethton, Johnson City Police Department.
CHEATHAM COUNTY: Christian West, Chapmansboro, Tennessee State University Police Department.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY: Kyle Figueroa of Speedwell, LaFollette Police Department; Kyle Figueroa of Speedwell, LaFollette Police Department; and Joseph Gonzalez of Tazewell, student.
COCKE COUNTY: Tanner Styles of Newport, Cocke County Sheriff’s Office.
DAVIDSON COUNTY: Aden Ali of Antioch, Tennessee State University Police Department.
DEKALB COUNTY: Roy Bain of Smithville, student.
GREENE COUNTY: Tai Edmonds of Greeneville, Greeneville Police Department; David Richey, Greeneville, Greeneville Police Department. Ericka Nutter of Greeneville, Johnson City Police Department.
HAMBLEN COUNTY: Jonathan Buchanan of Morristown, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office; Jeremiah Skeen of Morristown, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office.
HAWKINS COUNTY: Jorge Valladares of Church Hill, Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Jachob Smith of Rogersville, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
JEFFERSON COUNTY: Anthony Boyer of New Market, Grainger County Sheriff’s Office.
LEWIS COUNTY: Sheldon Ealy of Hohenwald, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; Clifford Wise of Hohenwald, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office
MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Michael Mason of Clarksville, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY: Lex Adams of Murfreesboro, Smyrna Police Department; Matthew Ricks of Murfreesboro, Smyrna Police Department; Deshaun Dawson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee State University Police Department; Drix Cruz of Smyrna, Smyrna Police Department; Cameron Rogers of Smyrna, Smyrna Police Department.
SEVIER COUNTY: Richard Huddleston, Gatlinburg, student; William Brooks of Sevierville, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Omar Fabian of Sevierville, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office; Hailey Lindsey of Sevierville, Sevierville Police Department.
SULLIVAN COUNTY: Erica South of Blountville, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Jason Douglas of Bristol, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Nathaniel Atkins of Kingsport, Kingsport Police Department; Montre Russell of Kingsport, Mt. Carmel Police Department; Andrew Hoover of Kingsport, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; Christian Simerly of Piney Flats, Johnson City Police Department.
UNICOI COUNTY: Michael Mendleson of Unicoi, Tri-Cities Airport Authority.
WASHINGTON COUNTY: Alison Fleming of Fall Branch, Johnson City Police Department; Kamryn Miller of Gray, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office; William Byrd of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Frankie Delgado of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Garrett Jennings of Johnson City, Johnson City Police Department; Alden Bailey of Johnson City, Kingsport Police Department; Marc Marquez of Johnson City, Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Sophia Cacciatore of Johnson City, Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Kaetlynn Brown of Jonesborough, Greeneville Police Department; Kody Justiss of Jonesborough, Johnson City Police Department; Caleb Bourne of Jonesborough, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
WAYNE COUNTY: Jaythen Staggs of Waynesboro, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
WILSON COUNTY: Kelsie Lopes of Lebanon, Tennessee State University Police Department.

Out-of-State
Kentucky: Dakota Hicks of Albany, Pickett County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office; Anthony Maldonado of Hopkinsville, Montgomery County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office.