Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced 39 recruits graduated from the Sheriff’s Office 24th Regional Law Enforcement Academy today. The graduates represent 19 law enforcement agencies from Tennessee.
The 12-week course began January 17. The 39 graduates underwent 500 hours of intense law enforcement training, including criminal law, community relations, patrol tactics, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, firearms, as well as other law enforcement-related topics. Recruits are also required to meet Cooper Institute standards for physical fitness in several categories, including sit-ups, push-ups, one and a half mile run, 300 meter run, and an obstacle course. The training took place at the Sheriff’s Office training facility located in west Blount County. The graduates employed by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office will also go through 12 weeks of field training.
The 39 graduates of Class 024 represent 19 law enforcement agencies from across Tennessee, as follows:
Jesse Ewing
Alcoa Police Department
Madison Holliday
Alcoa Police Department
Mackenzie Rymer
Athens Police Department
Andrew Cox
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Elijah Hunley
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Sharron Moore
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Daniel Pecoraro
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Rachel Reeves
Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Zachery Cross
Blount Memorial Hospital Security
Andrew North
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Storm Otterson
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Nathan Simmons
Fayetteville Police Department
Jovan Martin
Goodlettsville Police Department
Michael Headrick
Grainger County Sheriff’s Office
Janetha Gregory
Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Brian Hiatt
Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Austin Crider
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Michael DeSha
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Austin Blake Price
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Johnathan Dakoda Bright
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Gavin Blevins
Kingsport Police Department
Riley Eaton-Dye
Kingsport Police Department
Jacob McCoy
Kingsport Police Department
Tanner LaForce
Lenoir City Police Department
Christopher Sparks
Lenoir City Police Department
Mariah Lopez
Maryville Police Department
Josh Ludtke
Maryville Police Department
Peyton Pallan
Metro Nashville Airport Authority Dept. of Public Safety
Dominic Rossi
Metro Nashville Airport Authority Dept. of Public Safety
Sierra Tomlin
Metro Nashville Airport Authority Dept. of Public Safety
Megan Vetter
Metro Nashville Airport Authority Dept. of Public Safety
Sara Jo Posey
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office
Walter Sass
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office
Mark Taylor
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office
Andrew Gonzales
Overton County Sheriff’s Office
Greg Wright
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Ryan Collins
University of Tennessee Police Department
Nicholas Swarthout
University of Tennessee Police Department
Andrew Ziegler
University of Tennessee Police Department
In addition, five recruits were honored with special awards:
Firearms Proficiency Award:
Austin Blake Price, Hamiton County Sheriff’s Office
Top Driver Award:
Storm Otterson, Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Physical Fitness Award:
Gavin Blevins, Kingsport Police Department
Valedictorian:
Andrew Ziegler, Univ. of Tennessee Police Department (also received a scholarship from Bethel University)
William D. Nuchols Outstanding Officer Award
Nathan Simmons, Fayetteville Police Department
Don E. Boring Law Enforcement Award of Excellence:
Nicholas Swarthout, Univ. of Tennessee Police Department
The William D. Nuchols Outstanding Officer Award is given to the recruit who displays overall leadership qualities, as well as overall achievement. The award is named in honor of William D. Nuchols, a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty in 1956 in a car crash while responding to a call. In May 2009, William Nuchols was added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C.
The Don E. Boring Law Enforcement Award of Excellence is awarded by the Fraternal Order of Police, Bud Allison Memorial Lodge #9 in Maryville, to the recruit who displays honesty, integrity, perseverance, team spirit, and the desire to excel. The award is given in honor retired Chief Don E. Boring, who set the standard for law enforcement at the Maryville Police Department, as well as the BCSO. Chief Boring advanced through the ranks as an officer with MPD until assuming the rank of Chief of Police. He retired as Chief in 1989. He then served as Chief Deputy with the BCSO until 1999, retired, and then returned as interim chief deputy from 2002 until 2004. Chief Boring was persistent in the implementation of technological advancement in law enforcement.
Additionally Nathan Simmons of the Fayetteville Police Department was recognized and honored as the recipient of the Travis Parker Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was awarded by Maryville residents Tony and Hazel Hughes in recognition of son Travis Parker who was tragically killed in an automobile accident several years ago. It was Travis’s dream to become a law enforcement officer.
The graduation ceremony was held at East Maryville Baptist Church.
Original source can be found here
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