Academy Class 031 graduates 43 law enforcement officers
October 31, 2025
Forty-three law enforcement officers graduate from Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy
Maryville, Tennessee – Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announced 43 recruits graduated from the Sheriff’s Office 31st Regional Law Enforcement Academy today. The graduates represent 19 law enforcement agencies from Tennessee.
The 12-week course began August 11, 2025. The 43 graduates completed more than 544.30 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. The graduates employed by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office will also go through 12 weeks of field training.
The 43 graduates of Class 031 represent 19 law enforcement agencies from across Tennessee, as follows:
William Beal Alcoa Police Department
Ethan Fischer Alcoa Police Department
Maximus Hodge Alcoa Police Department
Austin Burger Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Dylan Phillips Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Jessica Plowman Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Ethan Williams Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Cory Bryant Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office
Cameron Burchett Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office
Matthew Hall Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office
Elias Lemus-Rodriguez Cleveland Police Department
Jonathon Rossi Cleveland Police Department
Nicholas Schmitt Cleveland Police Department
Zachery Stanley Cleveland Police Department
Stephen Viall Cleveland Police Department
Joshua Wiedmann Cleveland Police Department
Kristian Williams-Soto Cleveland Police Department
Jesus Jacquez Fayetteville Police Department
Jasmine May Fayetteville Police Department
Darius Cook Gallatin Police Department
Aniel Lopez-Crispin Gallatin Police Department
Layne Wix Gallatin Police Department
Jeremiah Nelson Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Savannah Rossetter Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Jordan Angers La Vergne Police Department
Jovanny Espinoza-Abrego Lenoir City Police Department
Jaden Jones Loudon City Police Department
Amelia Netherton Loudon County Sheriff’s Office
Alexis Lambert Maryville Police Department
Elizabeth Clark Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Wimanthip Phosi Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Jacob Thiesen Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Raleigh Whelan Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Wade Arms Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Travis Farris Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Leah Johnson Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Michael Parks Rhea County Sheriff’s Office
Jordan Hickman Robertson County Sheriff’s Office
Anthony Morton Selmer Police Department
Michael Copley Shelbyville Police Department
Brenton Owens Shelbyville Police Department
Shawn McCauley-Cook University of Tennessee Police Department– Knoxville
Jacob Warfield University of Tennessee Police Department – Knoxville
In addition, six recruits were honored with special awards:
Firearms Proficiency Award: Anthony Morton, Selmer Police Department
Top Driver Award: Maximus Hodge, Alcoa Police Department
Physical Fitness Award: Austin Burger, Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Greg McCowan Valedictorian
Award: Nicholas Schmitt, Cleveland Police Department
William D. Nuchols Outstanding Austin Burger, Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Award
Don E. Boring Law Enforcement Award Shawn McCauley-Cook, Univ. of Tennessee Police
Of Excellence Dept.
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. Sadly, Chief Boring passed away on January 31, 2025 at the age of 92, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Class valedictorian, Officer Nicholas Schmitt of the Cleveland Police Department, was also awarded a scholarship from Bethel University.
The graduation ceremony was held at Foothills Church in Maryville.