Ralph Bello
Director, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) Executive Secretary, Tennessee Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission
Rafael "Ralph" Bello was appointed in 2025 to the dual role of Executive Director of the Jerry F. Agee Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and as Executive Secretary of the Tennessee Peace Officers and Standards Training Commission. Before being promoted, Mr. Bello had served as POST Assistant Director since 2022.
Bello began his career in law enforcement in 2001 as a deputy sheriff for the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office in Ablemarle, NC. From 2005 to 2020, he served in the ranks of the Smyrna Police Department where he rose from police officer to field training officer to traffic crash reconstructionist to narcotics detective. He served a two-year term as a POST Commissioner from 2019 to 2021. In 2020, Mr. Bello joined the TLETA/POST command staff, where he instructed TLETA cadets and conducted investigations on behalf of the POST Commission.