More than 80 TLETA graduates will serve state, local law enforcement agencies
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) graduated more than 80 newly trained law enforcement officers today at the conclusion of its winter Basic Police School session.
The newly certified officers comprising Basic Police School Class 1738 join the ranks of thousands of law enforcement officers across Tennessee who studied at TLETA and went on to be commissioned by state and local law-enforcement agencies.
At the conclusion of the rigorous 10-week course (Oct. 11 to Dec. 18), graduates have the technical and tactical training as well as the ethical and professional standards of law enforcement that are necessary for success.
"After completing the Academy, officers possess the crucial know-how needed in potentially life-threatening situations as well as criminal and civil courts," said Brian Grisham, TLETA director. "Our seasoned instructors offer intensive, real-world training that yields good choices and good results. I am proud of Class 1738 and their achievement."
Class 1738’s members will serve a variety of law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee State Parks and the following police departments (PD) and sheriffs’ offices (SO):
Athens PD, Austin Peay State University Campus PD, Bolivar PD, Celina PD, Clarksville PD, Clay County SO, Collierville PD, Crockett County SO, Crossville PD, Dickson PD, Fayetteville PD, Gallatin PD, Hickman County SO, Haywood County SO, Hawkins County SO, Jackson PD, Kingsport PD, Kingston Springs PD, Lauderdale County SO, Lenoir City PD, Loudon County SO, Milan PD, Mount Pleasant PD, Murfreesboro PD, Oak Ridge PD, Ripley PD, Robertson County SO, Sequatchie County SO, Smyrna PD, Springfield PD, Sullivan County SO, Sumner County SO, Trousdale County SO, Williamson County SO and Wilson County SO.
The graduation speaker was Tennessee State Parks Chief Ranger Shane Petty. Chief Ranger Petty joined Tennessee State Parks as a ranger in 1989. He was named chief ranger in 1997. Petty oversees all law enforcement operations within the 55 state parks, supervising 215 commissioned officers. He also oversees all emergency operations in state parks, including K-9 operations, the horse mounted patrol, the wild land fire team, search and rescue teams, the Special Operations Response Team and the Tennessee State Parks emergency medical program. Petty graduated from TLETA at the top of his class in 1989. He has been a member of the visiting faculty at TLETA since 1998.
The first of 2015’s five TLETA training courses begins Jan. 4, 2015. For more information, visit www.tn.gov/let/.