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Class 131 Completes Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy

ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥ 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.