Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong is proud to announce 53 recruits graduated from the Sheriff’s Office 21st Regional Law Enforcement Academy today. The graduates represent 19 law enforcement agencies from Tennessee.

The 12-week course began August 3, 2020. The 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 graduates of Class 2021 represent 19 law enforcement agencies from across Tennessee:

William Coleman, Alcoa Police Department

Adam Stephens, Alcoa Police Department

David Allen, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

Brandon Goodman, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

James Van Dyke, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

Tyler Austin, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Raven Boyd, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Larry Gregory, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Alexander Hamilton, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Rance Hightower, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Kacie Lewis, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Gregory McCowan, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Justin Mowery, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Samantha Mull, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Rodney Sadler, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Kevin Snider, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Donny Walter, Blount County Sheriff’s Office

Lucas Broling, Cleveland Police Department

Zachary Rush, Cleveland Police Department

Robert Landrum, East Ridge Police Department

Dustin Smith, Elizabethton Police Department

Stephanie Pencka, Fairfield Glade Police Department

Dalton Henderson, Fayetteville Police Department

Dalton Balthazr, Greene County Sheriff’s Office

Luke Fields, Greene County Sheriff’s Office

Ricky May, Greene County Sheriff’s Office

Robert Bible, Greeneville Police Department

Katlyn Lamb, Greeneville Police Department

Anthony Price, Greeneville Police Department

Nick Monroe, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

Peyton Wilga, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

Brianna Buck, Kingsport Police Department

David Burke, Kingsport Police Department

Luke Lawson, Kingsport Police Department

Sarah Meade, Kingsport Police Department

Cassidy Wood, Kingsport Police Department

Bryan Alligood, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Joseph Felix, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Kristina Kanning, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Blake Love, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Thomas Millsaps, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Carmen Rhine, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Quinn Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Wesley Trippett, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Samuel Wagnon, Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Joshua Williams, Livingston Police Department

Justin Bryan, Manchester Police Department

Bradford Whitson, Mount Carmel Police Department

Ethan Denton, Nashville Airport Police Department

Austin Taylor, Nashville Airport Police Department

Woody Clower, Roane County Sheriff’s Office

Matthew Trantham, Roane County Sheriff’s Office

Ahmad Marion, University of Tennessee Police Department

In addition, six recruits were honored with special awards:

Firearms Proficiency Award: Donnie Walter, Blount County S.O.

Top Driver Award: Brandon Goodman, Anderson County S.O.

Physical Fitness Award: Lucas Broling, Cleveland Police Dept.

Valedictorian: Zachary Rush, Cleveland Police Dept.

William D. Nuchols Outstanding Officer Award Ethan Denton, Nashville Airport Police Department

Don E. Boring Law Enforcement Award of Excellence: Brandon Goodman Anderson County S.O.

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.

The graduation ceremony was held at East Maryville Baptist Church.