Page 1 of 21
MINUTES FOR P.O.S.T. COMMISSION MEETING
July 20, 2017
The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
met on Thursday, July 20, at 1:00 p.m., at the Wilderness at the
Smokies, 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville, Tennessee.
Chair Carl Jenkins called the meeting to order.
Chair Jenkins asked for a motion for approval of the July
agenda. Commissioner Baker moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Chrisman. The motion carried.
Mr. Farris conducted a roll call, which reflected the presence
or absence of the following commissioners: Baker – present;
Chrisman – present; Hannon – present; Hulsey – absent;
Jenkins – present; Lewis – absent; Long – present;
Wallace – present; Williamson – absent; Wilson – present;
Sen. Bell – absent; General Cherry – absent;
Forrester - present.
Chair Jenkins recognized Vice-Chair Mike Hannon, who read the
following disclaimer: All P.O.S.T. Commissioners have
previously agreed to recuse themselves from any vote that would
constitute a conflict of interest. The most obvious of these
would include issues that involve our own departments or someone
we know personally. Because we have already agreed to this, it
should be noted that on routine matters, it will be assumed
nonverbally that these commissioners have abstained from that
vote. In bigger more controversial issues that may have a more
overt conflict of interest or may have an appearance of
impropriety applicable commissioners will still verbally abstain
from those votes.
Chair Jenkins asked for a motion for approval of the June 16th
P.O.S.T. Commission Meeting minutes. Vice-Chair Hannon moved
for approval, seconded by Commissioner Baker. The motion
carried.
Chair Jenkins started with Walter State University.
The 2017 audit/inspection of the Walter State Law Enforcement
Training Academy was conducted on June 29, 2017.
Findings: One instructor file was deficient as it did not have
the general instructor for basic police academies.
Page 2 of 21
Recommendations: They immediately sent in the proper paperwork
requesting this certification, and it is on the July agenda.
Pursuant to Rule 1110-07-.06(2)(c) it is recommended the
P.O.S.T. Commission issue a letter advising the Walter State
Training Academy of the status of its compliance.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Wilson. The motion carried.
Hamilton County Parks and Recreation – Request William L. Durham
(hired May 17, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition
Class at TLETA September 2017. Mr. Durham graduated Georgia
240-hour Basic Law Enforcement in 1990 working for Walker County
Georgia Sheriff Department until retiring in 2014. He also
worked for Chattanooga Police Department 1985-1990.
Mr. Durham was present, along with Lieutenant Dan Ringer and
Captain Noel McDaniel.
Lieutenant Ringer told the Commission they hired Mr. Durham to
be a ranger and that he has 25 years of experience with Walker
County, Georgia.
Chair Jenkins asked if he meets all the criteria. Mr. Farris
said yes.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Chrisman. The motion carried.
Hamilton County Sheriff Office – Request Lori C. Choate (hired
April 12, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition Class
at TLETA September 2017. Ms. Choate graduated Chipola College
Florida 770-hour Law Enforcement Academy in 2010 working for
three Florida departments until December 2016.
Lori Choate was present.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Wilson. The motion carried.
APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION/WAIVERS FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT
REQUIRMENTS – 1110-02.03 + 1110-9-.04
Memphis Police Department – Request Lee A. Stubbs, III, to
receive a pre-employment waiver for being found guilty of
reckless driving and driving after consuming alcohol in
Page 3 of 21
North Carolina in 2005 while serving in the USMC. All penalties
and fines completed. He is currently in their 123rd Basic
Recruit Class that started on March 20, 2017.
Mr. Stubbs was present, along with Lieutenant Colonel Anthony
Rudolph and Officer Williams, who is their liaison with P.O.S.T.
Chair Jenkins asked why P.O.S.T. was just now getting this.
Lieutenant Colonel Rudolph said there was a huge storm that hit
Memphis. The training academy was hit the hardest. And the
background unit, who was responsible for turning these waivers
in, was displaced. It just wasn’t caught until recently.
Commissioner Wallace moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Long. Commissioner Forrester abstained from vote.
The motion carried.
WAIVER OF BASIC TRAINING – 1110-02-.03 + 1110-9-.02
The following requests for waiver/substitution of basic training
have been reviewed and appear to meet P.O.S.T. requirements:
Blount County Sheriff Office – Request David F. Cook (hired
May 14, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition Class at
TLETA September 2017. Mr. Cook graduated from Illinois 400-hour
Basic Training for part-time officers in 2013, and then
completed Illinois 80-hour Transition Class in 2014 to become a
full-time officer working for Illinois State Attorney’s Office
as an investigator until being hired by Blount County. An
additional 40 hours of EVOC training will be required.
David Cook was present, along with Chief Deputy Jeff French and
Dan Gallavan.
Chair Jenkins asked if he was scheduled to get the EVOC. Chief
Deputy French said Mr. Cook was scheduled to have the EVOC a
week before the Transition School.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Wilson. The motion carried.
Blount County Sheriff Office – Request Daniel C. Gallavan (hired
June 11, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition Class at
TLETA September 2017. Mr. Gallavan graduated from Slidell
Louisiana 450-hour Regional Police Academy in 2006 working for
two different departments until November 2015. An additional 40
hours of EVOC will be required.
Page 4 of 21
Daniel Gallavan was present, along with Chief Deputy Jeff
French.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Wallace. The motion carried.
Cocke County Sheriff Office – Request Kevin E. Ball (hired
March 15, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition Class
at TLETA September 2017. Mr. Ball graduated West Virginia
666-hour State Police Academy in 2004 working for Mingo County
WV Sheriff Office 2003-2013 and 2014-2016. If approved, a
six-month waiver will also be needed.
Kevin Ball was present, along with Sheriff Armando Fontes and
Lieutenant C.J. Ball.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Wilson. Vice-Chair Hannon abstained from vote. The motion
carried.
Mr. Farris said they have another request.
The department also requests that Mr. Ball be allowed to ride
solo upon completing their 12-week FTO training program.
Vice-Chair Hannon asked if it was going to be after Transition.
Mr. Grisham said before Transition.
Chair Jenkins said P.O.S.T. doesn’t normally allow folks to ride
solo. Mr. Grisham said they do when they’re previously
certified.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Wilson. The motion carried.
Pellissippi State Community College PD – Request Robert E. Deyo,
Jr. (hired June 19, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T.
Transition Class at TLETA September 2017. Mr. Deyo graduated
from Essex County New Jersey College 881-hour Police Academy in
2006 working for Essex County NJ Sheriff Office until 2015.
Robert Deyo was present, along with Chief Fred Brown.
Commissioner Baker moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Chrisman. The motion carried.
Page 5 of 21
WAIVER TO ATTEND ANOTHER ACADEMY – P.O.S.T. Rule 1110-02-.03(3)
Tennessee Highway Patrol – Request Tyler Edwards who attended
Metro Nashville Police Academy for one week in January 2016
before dropping out for personal reasons be allowed to attend
THP academy, which he graduated June 30, 2017.
Mr. Grisham introduced the waiver to the Commission. He said
the Highway Patrol and their Human Resources Division fully
informed P.O.S.T. of Mr. Edwards’ prior attendance, and it fell
through the cracks. P.O.S.T. staff did not get it on the
agenda.
Mr. Grisham went on to say that since this is a departmental
waiver, Mr. Edwards can attend Metro to become a trooper.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Forrester. Commissioner Baker abstained from vote.
The motion carried.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT WAIVER 1110-02-.03 + 1110-9-.04 ADDENDUM
McEwen Police Department – Request Timothy Stavely receive a
waiver for a General Under Honorable Discharge from U.S. Army.
Office Stavely has been a certified officer since 2013.
Timothy Stavely was present, along with Chief Eric Jernigan.
Chair Jenkins asked Mr. Stavely what the discharge was for.
Mr. Stavely said his discharge was for missing drill weekends.
Mr. Farris said he believed Mr. Stavely had an honorable
discharge at one time and then he went in the Reserves.
Mr. Stavely said from active duty he was released under
honorable conditions, and as a reservist he was released for
general under honorable conditions.
Commissioner Forrester asked Mr. Stavely why he missed drill
weekends. Mr. Stavely said at the time when he got to his
Reserve Unit they wanted to re-train him to do something that he
didn’t enlist for. They told him he would have to do it or they
would discharge him. Mr. Stavely made a bad decision and
stopped going.
Chair Jenkins asked where he worked previously. Mr. Stavely
said he worked for Houston County.
Page 6 of 21
Mr. Farris said it was brought to P.O.S.T.’s attention when
Mr. Stavely was with Houston County, but then he shifted
departments.
Chief Jernigan said he actually was dealing with a similar issue
a few months ago and realized he should have gotten a waiver.
So he called P.O.S.T. to get on the agenda to become compliant.
Commissioner Baker moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Long. Commissioner Wallace abstained from vote. Commissioner
Forrester opposed vote. The motion carried.
South Carthage Police Department – Request David G. Apple (hired
full-time May 22, 2017) be allowed to attend P.O.S.T. Transition
Class at TLETA September 2017. Mr. Apple graduated from TLETA
in 2006 working for Smith County Sheriff Office until July 2007
and then again part-time 2008 and 2009.
Mr. Farris said he checked all his records because it was so
close. Mr. Apple was right under the wire from all the records
that Mr. Farris reviewed.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Forrester. The motion carried.
APPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING OFFICER – 1110-04-.03
P.O.S.T. Investigators have reviewed and approved four
applications for Training Officer, and they appear to meet
criteria for approval.
The officers listed below, if any, will be informed that they
have one year to complete instructor development or approved
substitute.
Commissioner Wallace moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Chrisman. The motion carried.
APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR – 1110-03-.04
P.O.S.T. Investigators have reviewed and approved 26
applications for certified instructor, and they appear to be in
order and meet minimum standards, and they have completed the
minimum hours in attendance of required courses.
Page 7 of 21
The instructors listed below, if any, will be informed they have
one year to complete instructor development or approved
substitute.
Officers listed below, if any, request a waiver of the one-year
training officer requirement.
Randy Jay Phelps GDI Humphreys County SO
Christopher Mathenia GDI Medina PD
Commissioner Baker moved for approval, seconded by Vice-Chair
Hannon. The motion carried.
CURRICULUM AND TESTS - 1110-04 & SPECIALIZED TRAINING
CURRICULUM – 1110-04-.09
P.O.S.T. Investigators have reviewed and approved 104 in-service
and specialized training classes this month as they appear to be
in order and meet or exceed minimum standards set forth by the
Peace Officers Standards and Training requirements. They have
made note if these training offerings meet the P.O.S.T.
requirements for firearms, EVOC, mental illness, and CSA.
Vice-Chair Hannon moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Long. The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS/ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
Virtual Academy – At the request of the P.O.S.T. Commission,
Virtual Academy is appearing to answer questions and concerns
that the Commission may have regarding their Mental Illness
courses.
Executive Vice-President Tommy Legins was present, along with
Director of Partner Support Doug Tullock.
Mr. Legins told the Commission he appreciates the opportunity to
come to speak with the Commission and he hoped to resolve any
issues.
Mr. Legins first wanted to explain the functionality of the
certificates. He told the Commission that upon successful
completion of the assessment, a certificate is created.
Upon completion of the training video an assessment is then
given to the officer. It is not until that assessment is
successfully completed that a certificate is created.
Page 8 of 21
Chair Jenkins asked if the officers have to print their own
certificate. Mr. Legins said the certificates are stored
electronically in the system. The officers do print their own
certificates.
Mr. Legins told the Commission they do have certificates stored
in the system since 2013, which is when they began training.
The certificates are stored in the system indefinitely. They
could go back and review the training history and print any
certificate stored in the system.
Mr. Tullock said that both officers and training officers have
access to their certificates at any time.
Chair Jenkins then asked about the mental illness courses. He
said the P.O.S.T. Commission have had officers taking the wrong
mental illness course. And now some officers are coming in
saying they have taken the courses, but were not given
certificates.
Mr. Legins said they’ve been delivering courses since 2013 in 26
states. And they’ve delivered over 65,000 courses in the state
of Tennessee last year. However, these are the only ten
instances where a certificate could not be produced. They’ve
never had an instance of a certificate being lost, misplaced, or
deleted.
Mr. Legins went on to say that they’ve tried over the last few
months to duplicate the issue and have been unable to. He said
these are the only ten instances out of 65,000 courses given in
Tennessee.
Commissioner Long asked if there is an explanation as to why
they haven’t been able to replicate the problem. He said there
should be a trail of who has taken the course and if they’ve
completed the test for the course.
Mr. Legins said Mr. Tullock has made personal contact with every
department affected by this issue to talk about it.
Commissioner Long said they had one department the last meeting
that had four or five officers that said they took the courses,
but were not able to get a certificate. And because of that
problem, those officers were unable to receive their in-service
supplement.
Page 9 of 21
Commissioner Wallace said there was three officers, and they
each had over ten years of experience.
Mr. Legins said they made a visit with the sheriff there and
talked through the issue. He said the sheriff said he was
perfectly fine with what happened and felt like it wasn’t
specifically on V-Academy’s system.
Chair Jenkins asked if they had decided it wasn’t their problem.
Mr. Legins said they didn’t say it wasn’t their problem, but the
sheriff took just as much responsibility for the problem as
V-Academy did.
Mr. Legins told the Commission they don’t want to put the
officers or the agencies in jeopardy and have looked through the
system and at the officers’ histories and cannot find any
deleted or misplaced certificates.
Commissioner Long asked if they could even tell if the officers
registered and got online for the course. Mr. Legins said they
could see that if they did.
Commissioner Long asked if they could see where the ten officers
they’re talking about registered online for courses. He also
thought P.O.S.T. has had more than ten officers appear
complaining about not getting certificates.
Commissioner Long said there were some agencies that were large
enough that they told the officers not to print their
certificates out, that they would get them from the log they
kept through V-Academy. However, they were not able to access
the certificates through the log.
Mr. Legins said they’ve gone in and have tried to access the
history and cannot see where they have taken the course or got a
certificate.
Commissioner Wilson asked if there’s a log of the officer
logging into V-Academy whether they complete the course or not.
Mr. Legins said there is a record of them online whether they
complete the course or not.
Commissioner Wilson then asked if an officer logs into a course
and just listens to 15 minutes of it will there still be a
record of it. Mr. Legins said yes.
Page 10 of 21
Mr. Grisham asked if the system requires the video to be watched
and the assessment to be completed before a certificate is
generated. Mr. Legins said, yes, the assessment has to be
successfully passed before the certificate will generate.
Mr. Grisham asked if it’s possible to skip the video and go
straight to the assessment. Mr. Legins said hopefully not. He
said the officers shouldn’t be able to skip any steps.
Mr. Legins said in the past there was a feature available that
they could skip the video and go straight to the assessment, but
they’re not allowing that any longer. The department would have
to sign a waiver to turn the video off.
Mr. Grisham was trying to see if the officers were trying to
circumvent the system and it wouldn’t allow it. Mr. Legins said
there would still be a record of them logging in on the back
end, but they haven’t been able to find any record.
Commissioner Forrester asked what the process is of building a
block of instruction. Mr. Legins said what they do is they get
requests from agencies or they field requests themselves to
create a course.
They go out and try to find who the leading expert is to build
that course and call them. Then they create the curriculum for
the course. V-Academy gets the curriculum approved by P.O.S.T.
Once it’s approved they get the course instructor to go into the
studio and record the block.
Mr. Legins said each course goes through about six processes
before ending up with what can be viewed online.
Commissioner Forrester said he was more interested in the
functionality of the system as opposed to the content
development. Basically, how the software goes from Point A to
Point B, especially since mental illness seems to be the only
course with a glitch in it.
Mr. Legins said mental illness was not the only course with
issues that they’ve had. He said they’ve had issues with child
sex abuse, mental illness, and EVOC.
Chair Jenkins said they’ve only heard about mental illness
course issues. Commissioner Chrisman said he thought in the
others they may have missed it or they didn’t get the record.
Page 11 of 21
Commissioner Long said he wanted to make sure that of the ten
individuals who have had issues that they don’t have any record
on the system of them logging into the system at all.
Mr. Legins said no.
Chair Jenkins said they all came in and said they took the
courses, but they didn’t print their certificates.
Commissioner Wallace asked Mr. Legins and Mr. Tullock of the
officers that had taken all 40 hours with V-Academy had some
hours shown up and some not, or did they lose all 40 hours.
Mr. Legins said everything they had taken showed up. It was
just the one course in question that didn’t show up.
Commissioner Wallace asked if an officer had taken the test but
forgot to hit submit would they have known they did that.
Mr. Legins said yes.
Commissioner Wilson asked if there was a way that someone could
access one of the courses and it not show up. The officers said
they listened to the video and took the test and just didn’t
print a certificate. Mr. Legins said they tried to replicate
the issue, but couldn’t.
Commissioner Chrisman asked if they’re not able to replicate the
problem on their end, if it becomes a user error at that point.
Mr. Legins said yes.
Commissioner Wallace asked if Mr. Legins said that as an
administrator on the program they could go in there and make it
to where they could just take the test without watching the
video. Mr. Legins said no. The site administrator can go in
there and access the certificates and the training history from
the manager’s site. The officers could also log in and print
off certificates after completing the course.
Commissioner Wallace said they just can’t go in there and take
the tests. Mr. Legins said no. They have the assessment locked
out where they couldn’t skip the video.
Commissioner Wilson said he understood Mr. Legins to say earlier
that the administrator could sign a waiver to skip the video,
but they have since changed it and now they must watch the whole
video. Mr. Legins said if the department wanted to get a waiver
for that feature they would have to come to P.O.S.T. and ask for
a waiver.
Page 12 of 21
Commissioner Baker asked if the administrator could see if
somebody logged in the system for 15 minutes and didn’t complete
anything. Mr. Legins said they would not be able to see that.
Mr. Legins went on to say that they have an open relationship
with everybody. All they would need to do is call anybody on
Doug Tullock’s team and ask how long somebody had spent in a
particular course and they could tell them.
Commissioner Baker asked if they think somebody isn’t being
truthful about what happened as far as losing their certificates
since they are unable to recreate the problem. Mr. Legins said
that they cannot recreate the issue, but they cannot 100 percent
say that they didn’t have an issue with the system.
Mr. Tullock said that because of this they are implementing some
safeguards to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Mr. Legins
said what they’re going to start doing is marking the state
mandated courses in each state to let the training officers know
what courses are required and what courses, if any, those
officers have completed so far.
In addition to that, they’re going to start sending reports to
each department on the system at the end of September, October,
and November to let them know what courses are still
outstanding. That way the departments will be fully aware of
which officers have not completed the mandated courses so they
could get those completed before the deadlines.
Commissioner Wallace asked if they’re going to be sending the
reports to the sheriff or the chief or just to the person over
the program. Mr. Legins said they will send the reports to
whoever the administrator is over the program.
Also, Mr. Legins told the Commission that they have created a
certificate repository that will store every certificate
indefinitely. That way every certificate that is generated will
be able to be found on the system.
Mr. Tullock said that they are also going to give each
department a step-by-step guide on how to go into the history
and check a specific course.
Mr. Tullock also said that they are going to suggest that each
department only puts their personnel into one edition of each of
the mandates. The problem has been that they have five editions
Page 13 of 21
of child sex abuse and three editions of EVOC and mental illness
courses. So, when an officer says they have taken a course they
don’t know which edition they have taken and it makes it very
hard to find it.
They are also going to recommend a deadline for taking the
mandates so the departments will be aware of which officers have
not completed their mandates and they have plenty of time to
complete before the end of the year.
Commissioner Long asked if they have an indication on their
catalog that shows which courses are state mandated so that the
officers don’t take the wrong course. Mr. Legins said it’s only
the one marked mental illness.
Commissioner Long asked if they could mark the proper courses so
they there will be no misunderstanding about which courses are
state mandated. Mr. Legins said they can do that.
Chair Jenkins asked if the departments should have known already
what their officers have and have not completed. Mr. Legins
said yes.
Commissioner Wallace said one time she was given two different
passwords and was unable to find one of the mandates she
completed. She said that Mr. Tullock went into the system and
actually did find it. So they can find certificates in the
system.
Commissioner Chrisman asked if it was possible to send those
reports to the sheriffs and chiefs as well and not just to the
administrator of the program. Mr. Legins said they will send
them to the sheriffs, too.
Commissioner Chrisman said that V-Academy is a great training
tool for officers and offers tremendous training at a reasonable
cost, but they have to ensure that it will work for everyone all
the time. He went on to say that even though the number of
issues is minor compared to the number of officers they service
they must make sure that it works for everyone.
Commissioner Long said that he still had a lot of concern. He
said it’s one thing when there is one or two people, but when it
is as many as they’ve had come before the Commission saying that
they have taken courses with V-Academy and nobody have any
record of it, it’s concerning. Commissioner Long said that he
believed there were more like 20, 25 people who have had issues.
Page 14 of 21
Mr. Farris said some of those people accidentally took the wrong
mental illness course and the Commission waived those courses.
He believed that it was only ten or twelve people.
Mr. Legins said it was ten officers, so because they have
contacted every department and verified it.
Commissioner Long asked if the officers had told Mr. Legins or
Mr. Tullock that they took the class when they contacted the
departments. Mr. Tullock said the sheriffs told them that they
could not say 100 percent whether the officers had taken the
courses or not. But Mr. Tullock said they were unable to locate
it in the system where they had logged in and took the course.
Commissioner Chrisman said the safeguards should make a
difference. As far as the certificate repository goes, there
should not be any lost certificates anymore. Also, by sending
the reports to the sheriffs and chiefs they should be aware
ahead of time about officers not completing the courses and have
it fixed before the end of the year.
Mr. Farris asked if they could copy P.O.S.T. on the last report
they send to the departments. That way P.O.S.T. could have a
heads up about who is not in compliance. Mr. Legins agreed.
Commissioner Baker asked if they come up with a new video every
year for the state mandates. Mr. Legins said they don’t. They
have three for mental illness, three for EVOC, and three for
child sex abuse.
Commissioner Baker said that’s not really helping individuals
learn when they’ve watched the same video 16 times. Mr. Grisham
agreed and said he’d like to see more of a variety.
Mr. Farris said he’ll sit down and make sure that every
department in Tennessee gets one round of mandates this year and
that next year it’ll be a different round.
Commissioner Wallace asked if there was a way they could set up
the courses so that an officer could watch 15 minutes of the
video and take a couple of questions and then watch another
15 minutes and take some more instead of watching a two-hour
video and trying to take the test afterwards. Mr. Legins said
they are discussing that possibility. It changes the system and
the way the system was built to do it that way.
Page 15 of 21
Rule Changes for P.O.S.T. Rules Chapters 8 and 10 will be
discussed.
Mr. Grisham said the rules were discussed and the
recommendations were to make all the changes in the redline
version that was distributed and add that to the public hearing
rules.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Wallace. The motion carried.
The 2017 audit/inspection of the Blount County Law Enforcement
Training Academy was conducted on May 31, 2017.
Findings: No director was named to oversee the academy.
Recommendations: This was rectified on June 5, by
correspondence to P.O.S.T. naming an academy director.
Pursuant to Rule 1110-07-.06(2)(c) it is recommended the
P.O.S.T. Commission issue a letter advising the Blount County
Training Academy of the status of its compliance.
Vice-Chair Hannon moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Chrisman. The motion carried.
The 2017 audit/inspection of the Chattanooga PD Law Enforcement
Training Academy was conducted on June 1, 2017.
Findings: Firing Range – the combat/action-reaction course and
the laterally moving target is not working.
Recommendations: Repair and/or replace the two deficiencies.
Pursuant to Rule 1110-07-.06(2)(c) it is recommended the
P.O.S.T. Commission issue a letter advising the Blount County
Training Academy of the status of its compliance.
Mr. Farris said that’s a big-ticket item, so it’s not been
fixed. That’ll be an appropriation in the budget.
Chair Jenkins asked if they could approve the inspection.
Mr. Farris said that’s up to the Commission.
Commissioner Baker asked if they could be in compliance without
getting it fixed. Mr. Farris said no.
Page 16 of 21
Mr. Farris said he spoke with the training lieutenant and said
it’s imperative that they get it fixed.
Commissioner Chrisman said the recommendation would be for the
Commission to issue a letter advising them that they need to get
the range fixed.
Mr. Grisham said that according to Subsection 1110-07-.06 the
Commission may consider on a case-by-case basis a request for a
waiver to provide the agency an opportunity to return to full
compliance.
He said that his academy was out of compliance last year and he
used that status to get a new target system. It did take a
little while to do it. It cost over $100,000. Mr. Grisham said
to notify them in their compliance that they’re in compliance
except for their range.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Wallace.
Commissioner Wallace asked how long they have to get into
compliance. Mr. Farris said they have one year to get in
compliance.
Mr. Farris asked if the Commission wants to give them a waiver
for the year to get their range fixed and in compliance.
Mr. Grisham said yes. Mr. Farris said he can contact the
lieutenant and tell him they’re not in compliance and put them
on the August agenda to get a waiver to operate.
Commissioner Chrisman asked if the letter they send to the
academy will inform them of their compliance status and to tell
them they need to get their range fixed appropriately.
Mr. Farris said the letter can say that if that’s what the
Commission wants.
Commissioner Baker said they probably have already done their
budget and they don’t have an allowance to get it fixed.
Chair Jenkins said they need to come in and ask for a waiver to
operate.
Commissioner Forrester asked what happens after the year.
Commissioner Long said he doesn’t understand the motion.
Commissioner Chrisman said the original motion was to send a
Page 17 of 21
letter advising them of their compliance status. He said he
would amend the motion to include they have one year to rectify
the situation.
Commissioner Long asked if they needed to come in and ask for a
waiver in the interim. Commissioner Chrisman said they should
and included that in his motion.
Mr. Grisham told Commissioner Forrester the statute says it
shall extend no more than one year.
Commissioner Forrester asked if that’s a year from the
inspection. Mr. Grisham says from the request of the waiver.
Commissioner Baker asked if that would mean one year from August
when they appear. Mr. Grisham said yes.
The motion carried.
The 2017 audit/inspection of the Cleveland State Law Enforcement
Training Academy was conducted on June 1, 2017.
Findings: 1. All 17 of the current cadets were missing the
required fingerprint report. 2. No combat/action-reaction
course was in place at the firearms range.
Recommendations: A follow-up audit was scheduled and conducted
on June 28, 2017. All fingerprint results were corrected and in
place in each student file. 2. Upon re-audit a makeshift
combat/action-reaction target was being utilized and a
professional target system had been ordered.
Pursuant to Rule 1110-07-.06(2)(c) it is recommended the
P.O.S.T. Commission issue a letter advising the Blount County
Training Academy of the status of its compliance.
Vice-Chair Hannon moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Chrisman. The motion carried.
2016 Salary Supplement: The following departments did not
submit or insufficiently submitted salary supplement for 2016.
The department head as well as the GDI will be requested to
appear at the August P.O.S.T. Commission Meeting.
Page 18 of 21
No Salary Supplements Submitted
Trezevant PD
LaGrange PD
HuntLand PD
Powells Crossroads PD
Troy PD
Chair Jenkins said he doesn’t need a motion.
WAIVERS OF SIX-MONTH RULE
The following departments are requesting a waiver of the
six-month rule to keep their officer(s) and the departments in
compliance.
Cannon County Sheriff Office – Request six-month waivers for
Brayde M. Baker (hired June 6, 2017) and Tylr C. Shawver (hired
June 5, 2017), both will be attending TLETA October 2017.
Commissioner Wallace moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Chrisman. The motion carried.
Clarksville Police Department – Request two six-month waivers
for Journey Goldberg (hired March 20, 2017) due to a medical
condition she will not be able to attend TLETA until 2018.
Chair Jenkins said he has a problem with departments coming and
asking for multiple waivers.
Mr. Grisham said Clarksville is of a size where they can afford
to pay her on medical leave until she’s able to attend TLETA.
Plus, she’s not out patrolling by herself.
Chair Jenkins asked if she was working. Mr. Grisham said he was
sure they have her doing something, but she’s definitely not out
patrolling by herself.
Mr. Farris said she’s been on desk duty since March 20, 2017.
She was sworn in on the 16th, and has not performed any
patrolling since.
Chair Jenkins asked could the department not re-classify her as
a civilian until she’s ready to go to the academy. Commissioner
Wilson said that would be easier.
Commissioner Chrisman said you’ve got FMLA, which is what
Mr. Farris said he thought she was on.
Page 19 of 21
Commissioner Forrester asked if there was a minimum amount of
time you’re supposed to work with a department before getting
FMLA. Mr. Grisham said some departments recognize it right
away. Federal law doesn’t require it until they work for two
years.
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Chrisman. The motion carried.
Hendersonville Police Department – Request six-month waivers for
Eric T. Matthews, Jr., (hired May 12, 2017) and Daniel C.
Harbsmeier (hired May 27, 2017), both will be attending TLETA
October 2017.
Commissioner Forrester asked Mr. Grisham if they need a waiver
since they have six months to enroll now because that would fall
within the six-month timeframe. Mr. Grisham said they were
hired in May. Commissioner Forrester said it says enrolled, not
completed. Mr. Grisham they really don’t need a waiver.
Commissioner Long moved for approval just in case it runs over,
seconded by Vice-Chair Hannon. The motion carried.
Jackson Police Department – Request six-month waivers for the
following officers, all were hired May 30, 2017, and will be
attending TLETA October 2017.
Ricky Allen, Jr. Timothy Berry Zachary Brown
Zachary Cobb Brandon Cooper Jonathan Goodwin
Joshua Hatch Robert Jaggers Christopher Jimenez
Darren Seward Jared Tull Zachary White
Kurtis R. Krohn Stowe
Vice-Chair Hannon moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner
Wallace. The motion carried.
Madison County Sheriff Office – Request six-month waivers for
Zachary L. Fitzgerald and Timothy B. Thompson (both hired June
11, 2017) and will be attending TLETA October 2017.
Chair Jenkins said they’re not going to vote on that one.
Pulaski Police Department – Request a six-month waiver for Aaron
Pinkelton (hired May 14, 2017) and will be attending TLETA
October 2017.
Page 20 of 21
Commissioner Long moved for approval, seconded by Vice-Chair
Hannon. The motion carried.
WAIVERS OF IN-SERVICE – RULE 1110-09-.05
Requests for a waiver have been received for the following
officers so that they will remain in compliance with P.O.S.T.
guidelines as well as the department. They are not eligible for
salary supplement.
Chattanooga Police Department – Request officers Wilma Brooks
and William Puckett who did not complete 2016 IS training be
granted in-service waivers for 2016 so the department can stay
in compliance.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Wilson. The motion carried.
Jonesborough Police Department – Request officers Justin D.
Davis, Natalie E. Hilton, and Avis I. Smith whom all left the
department without completing 2016 IS training receive
in-service waivers so the department can stay in compliance.
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by Vice-Chair
Hannon. The motion carried.
Mason Police Department – Request officers Malcolm D. Terry and
Jason M. Tyndall who left the department before completing 2016
IS training receive in-service waivers so the department can
stay in compliance.
Commissioner Wilson moved for approval, seconded by Vice-Chair
Hannon. The motion carried.
Memphis Police Department – Request the following officers who
failed for the second year to complete IS training and have been
placed in an inactive status until further notice. They will be
required to have updated psychological and medical evaluations
upon return.
Tony A. Franklin Jacob N. Jones Tina L. Marcy
Stephen O. Sloan Edward C. Young
Commissioner Chrisman moved for approval, seconded by
Commissioner Long. The motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned.