[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6600509,"mediaKeyId","3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87","parentId",3040036,"title","MTSU presents statewide job-task analysis identifying 380 essential duties for Tennessee officers","audioSeconds",1353,"startMs",6590000,"endMs",7943000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87&start=6590&end=7943","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87/thumbnail_6590000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600509/Tennessee/MTSU-presents-statewide-job-task-analysis-identifying-380-essential-duties-for-Tennessee-officers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600509-5e4bc2c6d595629dcb58811889c8bba7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770050188&Signature=MIuj7xHI2guXsPjnvRQ52-X~8CgrhcMR3o0ikz0sE3UZTEqOEQSLmMMSn4y2Rf4JvtLKWCdr0GgvHgN-SdPmc4McmsOAtUrpMVVauMxAsWL8Wv5X--J4sr3UfsuuITJ5Lu-uDzRf7rCR-qCw1k5WEA7jjC-Mi3V1PevpUzhSnUAwkRRL13odQ7iHKCx0btMgBbasKrdDJPLiH-qK~-Ejs8UVhri9dPcjdlPU6PPpuVAPmWBN9kqUALhUFsHGYn-ynRHvxhqhMVQf~cimx0yWiUfvbjSJVWj2K21aRvbLhMqAKaN8ehIVjOCWJabPNigBMMMmnoMheqibWlO069gRQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Commerce & Insurance","date","2025-04-17T16:35:15.523Z","article","Middle Tennessee State University researchers on April 17 presented the first statewide job task analysis (JTA) for Tennessee law enforcement, identifying 380 validated tasks that the university recommends as core to entry-level officer training.

Dr. Ben Stickel and the MTSU team described a multi-step study that included literature review, 61 virtual focus groups with roughly 172 officers and deputies, and a statewide survey that drew approximately 717 respondents from patrol, investigations, K9, SWAT, traffic and other functions. Using a combined frequency-and-criticality scoring method, researchers validated 380 tasks out of an initial list of 458 as meeting the threshold for inclusion in entry-level training.

The study organized validated tasks into 55 categories and highlighted common, high-priority areas such as responding to domestic violence, use-of-force decision-making, crisis intervention for mental-health incidents, traffic enforcement, and basic investigative procedures. The researchers recommended that POST and state academies use the JTA to align basic training and testing with duties officers perform on day one of patrol.

\"We strove to empirically give you a good idea of what exactly a police officer, sheriff's deputy does day to day in this state,\" Dr. Stickel said. He described the report as a foundation for a model basic training curriculum and urged periodic updates every five to seven years to reflect evolving job demands.

POST leaders and commissioners praised the work and said the JTA would inform next steps, including stakeholder-driven development of a model basic training curriculum and continued partnership with MTSU. The research team delivered printed binders of the report to the commission during the meeting.

Speakers

- Dr. Ben Stickel, Middle Tennessee State University (project lead)
- Dr. Carter Smith, MTSU team (present)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[]

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"focus_groups\",\"detail\":\"Number of virtual focus groups conducted\",\"value\":61,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Dr. Ben Stickel\"},{\"category\":\"focus_group_participants\",\"detail\":\"Approximate total number of officers participating in focus groups\",\"value\":172,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Dr. Ben Stickel\"},{\"category\":\"survey_respondents\",\"detail\":\"Survey sample size across the state\",\"value\":717,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Dr. Ben Stickel\"},{\"category\":\"validated_tasks\",\"detail\":\"Number of tasks meeting inclusion threshold for entry-level training\",\"value\":380,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Dr. Ben Stickel\"}]

Proper_names

[{\"name\":\"Middle Tennessee State University\",\"type\":\"organization\"},{\"name\":\"Tennessee POST Commission\",\"type\":\"agency\"}]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"6590.45\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":90,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Good morning. My name is Doctor Ben Stickel with Middle Tennessee State University. I'm pleased to share with you today the results of our major project that you commissioned ...\",\"tc_start\":\"01:49:50\",\"tc_end\":\"01:50:10\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"7923.125\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":60,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Thank you all very much. Thank you. And I went to graduate school in the future. I'm gonna be surprised. Anything else we have public comments? Public comments.\",\"tc_start\":\"02:12:03\",\"tc_end\":\"02:12:23\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience\":{\"overall\":0.88,\"overall_justification\":\"Statewide study that may influence academy curricula, testing, and training standards; potential long-term impact on law-enforcement preparation.\",\"impact_scope\":\"statewide\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Findings apply to all Tennessee law enforcement academies and basic training standards.\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Study informs possible changes to statewide training and testing programs and is likely to guide POST policy and curriculum development.\",\"novelty\":0.70,\"novelty_justification\":\"First statewide JTA for Tennessee and a sizable, rigorous effort with high participation.\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.65,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Provides foundation for near-term curriculum development and legislative or administrative follow-up.\",\"legal_significance\":0.35,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Helps make training and testing defensible but does not itself change statute.\",\"budgetary_significance\":0.20,\"budgetary_significance_justification\":\"Potential future resource implications for academies depending on curriculum changes.\"} , ","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TN POST Commission Meeting April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Middle Tennessee State University presented the results of a statewide job task analysis commissioned by POST, validating 380 essential patrol tasks and recommending evidence-based updates to basic training and testing.","taxTitle","Commerce & Insurance, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee","taxId",17379,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600513,"POST investigator says Claiborne County submitted fabricated firearms rosters; commission requires remedial actions",794,4812000,5606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87&start=4812&end=5606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87/thumbnail_4812000.jpg","/articles/6600513/Tennessee/POST-investigator-says-Claiborne-County-submitted-fabricated-firearms-rosters-commission-requires-remedial-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600513-d5dfbed9e63ee34fbfc09f0373bc3d8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770050188&Signature=FQQdcpIRHHwc7vcDrdEVfBj5s8bv9auwEn-ahUYNqpdyoVjfBRPgh-4uBoUT8CLoG1a20HbgipkDpsW6TEz1kZFa2J6XLvl4IgYBBE7cdk6fIesPDxSWHKKTyi2idbA0ytVk0efcQyEngxrFvfYmJMjXHvzTnqlSxvN57G78KH6OQ1LGbWgmUe3e74L6tOQZm3Dhi8ojezCiGCMk0iOTBu8Udjbz0V4wwoE7jdo4UQ0tghadV054EV8OEOxK74sevrajC9ZdK5bTeeMbu0YR69NfNmDGSx4hkcbCSHlC-F9jYQC~21l2VjJV1GV-j4fhrcgWaOIVfJ8gWf6RngDJqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee POST Commission on April 17 reviewed an investigator's report concluding Claiborne County submitted inaccurate firearms rosters and altered electronic records when audited, and it directed the county to correct records and face informal follow-up.

Post investigator Kevin Creed told commissioners an unannounced visit and subsequent records review found the county's firearms rosters and lesson plan were either missing or created after requests from POST staff. Creed said the electronic roster produced appeared to have been created or modified the morning it was submitted, and later the county's firearms instructors produced handwritten rosters that documented the actual qualification events and scores.

\"He lied to me about having the records ... he produced submitted the post fraudulent documents,\" Creed reported. The investigator said the training roster contained fabricated scores and dates that did not match instructors' handwritten rosters.

Claiborne County representatives acknowledged the problem, said the staff member previously responsible for training records had resigned, and described steps to correct the records. Chief Deputy and deputy representatives said the county has since appointed new training staff, sent personnel to the GDI (General Departmental Instructor) class, and submitted an accurate 2024 firearms lesson plan and roster for POST review.

The commission voted to take no immediate decertification action against the county; instead it moved the personnel matter for informal review, approved the county's 2024 firearms lesson plan as submitted to allow processing of salary supplements for deputies who had properly completed training, and directed the POST investigator to continue follow-up. Commissioners noted that POST could refer potential criminal matters to the district attorney if warranted but did not make that referral at the meeting.

Speakers

- Kevin Creed, POST Investigator
- Chief Deputy (Claiborne County Sheriff's Office), present in meeting
- Deputy Jake Williams, Claiborne County (newly assigned GDI candidate)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[{\"kind\":\"motion\",\"identifiers\":{\"agenda_item_id\":\"claiborne-investigation-2025-04-17\"},\"motion\":\"No action for Claiborne County; move related personnel matter to informal review; approve Claiborne County 2024 firearms lesson plan\",\"mover\":\"Commissioner Wright (moved by record)\",\"second\":\"Commissioner Little\",\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{},\"legal_threshold\":{\"met\":true,\"notes\":\"Commission voted by voice; action carries remediation and informal oversight rather than decertification.\"},\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"POST investigator to continue review; county submitted corrected lesson plan and instructors' rosters.\"}]

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"fabrication\",\"detail\":\"Investigator found electronic roster appeared generated/altered the morning it was submitted and that scores/dates were not accurate; handwritten instructor rosters later provided matched actual shoots\",\"source_speaker\":\"Kevin Creed\"},{\"category\":\"personnel_change\",\"detail\":\"Lieutenant responsible for records resigned; county appointed new training officer and sent two staff to GDI class\",\"source_speaker\":\"Chief Deputy, Claiborne County\"},{\"category\":\"remediation\",\"detail\":\"Commission approved 2024 firearms lesson plan and will allow salary supplement processing for deputies with validated records\",\"source_speaker\":\"Kevin Creed\"}]

Proper_names

[{\"name\":\"Claiborne County Sheriff's Office\",\"type\":\"agency\"}]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"4812.5254\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Kevin Craig, post investigator. This was brought up as an initial audit, with Claiborne County. They were deficient on, being late to middle of 2023 for their salary supplement ...\",\"tc_start\":\"01:20:12\",\"tc_end\":\"01:21:12\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"5576.07\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":90,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I'll make a motion that we do no action for Claiborne County and for Tim Randall that we move him to a informal and also add investigators submitted to the agreement. Commissioner Little second.\",\"tc_start\":\"01:32:56\",\"tc_end\":\"01:33:26\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience\":{\"overall\":0.85,\"overall_justification\":\"Investigation alleges falsified official training rosters used to secure salary supplements; implications for certification integrity and possible criminal exposure.\",\"impact_scope\":\"regional\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Findings affect Claiborne County deputies' salary supplements and may affect statewide trust in training records.\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Fabricated official training documents raise regulatory, administrative and possible criminal concerns.\",\"novelty\":0.60,\"novelty_justification\":\"Discovery of fabricated records in training files is a significant integrity issue.\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.70,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Commission required corrective action and continued investigation; outreach to DA possible.\",\"legal_significance\":0.70,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Falsifying government training records may trigger decertification or criminal referral; commission chose informal review and remediation at meeting.\"} , ","An investigator reported Claiborne County submitted falsified firearms rosters for 2024; the commission approved the county's corrected lesson plan and directed informal follow-up and documentation to restore salary supplements for deputies.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600517,"POST denies Jackson-area waiver, rescinds earlier approval after video review",244,3935000,4179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87&start=3935&end=4179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87/thumbnail_3935000.jpg","/articles/6600517/Tennessee/POST-denies-Jackson-area-waiver-rescinds-earlier-approval-after-video-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600517-671ffb5521406949c231f3bf3cbaa1be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770050188&Signature=eCtQMjfHAJ5xbvByd0PcTuIqUoVD3-bBocAg5u~U0AqKFFN43sQlk0OjWH7yHROu2A68lqp1vYpnSdIGOMTUlbKuJaCOHSXT3v3Bqa-JplC5ZCc4mabdF5Z3jBR04SNKQTkdvyWvnC1slpP9IBQ9yisCARFXXEzqYJNozU7ey2KUp~cHE9hAPoqNiwo7CO~UFkFGEz4gmVVxwoC7fD3dwyIqaC12vI0m7oVEf5V9Rc3E8EwGiV8s~r332z3v7R~WKrJNYJbITIk1GO~0jpZbJfuYG3g6W0meme~~fpwsUOYEe4e97lZnmveIy6Do4I7Gb7Qiu5-CNsOCMcFNsTR7KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee POST Commission on April 17 denied a criminal-record and military-discharge waiver request for a Jackson Police Department applicant and later rescinded a previously granted certificate approval tied to a separate Jackson County case after the agency provided video evidence.

During separate agenda items, the commission considered two Jackson-area requests. First, Jackson Police Department sought a waiver for Jordan Shane Neushenwander, who had been discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 2015 and had a 2015 DUI conviction in Bibb County, Georgia. Neushenwander told the commission he has been sober, is active in his church, and has worked in security since leaving the military. He said he had additional traffic-related incidents, and noted one Oklahoma City charge had been expunged.

The commission took a motion to deny Neushenwander's waiver. Commissioner Jeffress moved to deny the waiver and Mr. Gray seconded; commissioners voted in favor of the denial as recorded on the transcript.

Later the commission revisited a February approval related to Ryan Dubiel, an applicant whose residency and prior conduct were under scrutiny. Detective Shane Stanton of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office told the commission the agency reviewed video that contradicted the applicant's earlier testimony to the commission and subsequently terminated him. After Jackson County presented the update, a commissioner moved to rescind the earlier approval and to flag the individual's record in the national decertification/denial index (NDI); commissioners voted to rescind the prior approval and to enter the matter into statewide records so it will be discoverable by other agencies.

The rescission followed Jackson County's representation that the agency had fired the individual after learning the applicant had not accurately described the incident at issue to POST earlier. Detective Stanton told the commission Jackson County had viewed the relevant video and that the sheriff \"ultimately terminated him\" after learning the full facts.

Speakers

- Jordan Shane Neushenwander, Applicant (Jackson Police Department application)
- Frank Yalba, Representative (Jackson Police Department) [as named in the transcript]
- Detective Shane Stanton, Jackson County Sheriff's Office (agency representative)

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"National Decertification Index (NDI)\",\"citation\":\"NDI\",\"referenced_by\":[\"jackson-waivers-rescind\"]}]

Actions

[{\"kind\":\"motion\",\"identifiers\":{\"agenda_item_id\":\"waiver-jordan-neushenwander-2025-04-17\"},\"motion\":\"Deny criminal-record and military-discharge waiver for Jordan Shane Neushenwander (Jackson Police Department)\",\"mover\":\"Commissioner Jeffress\",\"second\":\"Mister Gray\",\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{},\"legal_threshold\":{\"met\":true,\"notes\":\"Recorded as voice vote in transcript; commissioners voted in favor of denial.\"},\"outcome\":\"failed\",\"notes\":\"Motion to deny carried; no roll-call tally recorded.\"},{\"kind\":\"motion\",\"identifiers\":{\"agenda_item_id\":\"rescind-dubiel-2025-04-17\"},\"motion\":\"Rescind prior approval for Ryan Dubiel and flag the individual's record in the National Decertification Index\",\"mover\":\"Commissioner Martin\",\"second\":null,\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{},\"legal_threshold\":{\"met\":true,\"notes\":\"Commission voted to rescind prior action and to mark the record in NDI.\"},\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Jackson County reported termination after agency review of video; motion carried.\"}]

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"criminal_history\",\"detail\":\"Neushenwander DUI in Bibb County, Georgia; Oklahoma charge(s) within month; Oklahoma matters expunged\",\"value\":\"2015\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Jordan Shane Neushenwander\"},{\"category\":\"rescind_reason\",\"detail\":\"Jackson County reviewed body-camera video that contradicted prior testimony; agency terminated the employee and requested rescission and flagging\",\"source_speaker\":\"Detective Shane Stanton\"}]

Proper_names

[{\"name\":\"Jackson Police Department\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Jackson County Sheriff's Office\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"National Decertification Index (NDI)\",\"type\":\"other\"}]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"1079.58\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":90,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Jackson Police Department requested military discharge and criminal record waiver for Jordan Shane Neushenwander in May of 2015. He was discharged from the United States Air Force with a general under honorable conditions discharge ...\",\"tc_start\":\"00:17:59\",\"tc_end\":\"00:18:40\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"1526.835\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":35,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Mister Jeffress, I'll make a motion to deny the waiver.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:25:26\",\"tc_end\":\"00:25:31\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"},{\"block_id\":\"3935.55\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"The commission to revisit a February 2025 vote to approve a criminal record waiver for Ryan ... Jackson County Sheriff's Office has an update on his employment status with the department ... he is no longer employed with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.\",\"tc_start\":\"01:04:59\",\"tc_end\":\"01:05:59\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"4149.2153\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":80,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"All in favor of that motion, say aye. Aye. Daily post. Alright. So that motion carries.\",\"tc_start\":\"01:09:09\",\"tc_end\":\"01:09:39\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience\":{\"overall\":0.78,\"overall_justification\":\"Denial and rescission involve public-safety credentialing and integrity issues with broader implications for hiring vetting and statewide records.\",\"impact_scope\":\"regional\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Actions affect Jackson-area agencies and may be discoverable statewide via NDI.\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Rescinding an approval and flagging in NDI represents a significant integrity and interagency notification action.\",\"novelty\":0.45,\"novelty_justification\":\"Rescission after video review is notable; denials are routine but matter locally.\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.60,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Records will be entered in the NDI and may affect other agencies' hiring decisions.\",\"legal_significance\":0.55,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Flagging in the NDI affects certification and future employment across jurisdictions.\",\"budgetary_significance\":0.00,\"budgetary_significance_justification\":\"No budgeting actions reported.\",\"public_safety_risk\":0.50,\"public_safety_risk_justification\":\"Concerns about candor and use-of-force conduct have implications for public trust and safety.\"} , ","The Tennessee POST Commission denied a criminal-record and military-discharge waiver for a Jackson Police applicant and rescinded a previously granted approval for another applicant after the hiring agency reported the employee was terminated following review of body-camera footage.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600522,"Tennessee POST approves military-discharge waiver for Columbia police applicant",394,654000,1048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87&start=654&end=1048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040036-9891e2487636b5d786f51aa26864bb87/thumbnail_654000.jpg","/articles/6600522/Tennessee/Tennessee-POST-approves-military-discharge-waiver-for-Columbia-police-applicant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600522-b70fdb28e6b0de8bb991c64ecabfef87/orig.mp4?Expires=1770050188&Signature=OR8Tp5fn7wFdUJKVGyJF3tfHzhxlf9HPzBRcQnmPIWwPO6kPQVAtqiAi4vBKLK0Esa8gqvBl9E2mnhO5g-2w71H7od4a6gq7C9zlZN3IJB-qhUNJ4z9ljpeIu~En3aR7kRLU62dRxVZJXsELNCNCk9UYw7BEJfHkoYiLEkXy2vDiS2v-KsraxJjAEhgUq~CEpZJgNx~vDQ7N-Ta~M668FJTR~SAlfvEe-b4ahRxP05nK9m70JHve5TVTL1C3aVvpAdY2rbTfiRHNqHg~zvOWkMxZO5iC2RKh~Ze-6xGv6BfVAdbiu~HWZL60leJd76MS36WrPFT5U6h0HBboXEaOsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee POST Commission on April 17 approved a military-discharge waiver that allows Columbia Police Department applicant Corey Fields to remain eligible for certification.

The vote followed a presentation by Columbia Police Department Captain Josh Davis and testimony from Fields, who described family and childcare hardships that led to his military discharge in 2013. Fields said he has since worked in security, secured stable family support and is seeking a second chance in law enforcement.

The waiver matters because it permits Columbia to hire Fields notwithstanding a 2013 general discharge from the U.S. Army for a pattern of misconduct linked in the record to missed duty while he was sole caregiver for an infant. Fields told the commission he accepted the discharge at the time because he could not meet both military obligations and sole custody responsibilities. \"I ask that the commission give me the chance to prove that I'm worthy of the second chance,\" Fields said.

Captain Josh Davis told commissioners his agency had conducted a thorough background investigation and concluded Fields is a suitable hire. \"We've looked at his work history since he left the military ... he's definitely proven to us that he was just in a horrible situation back in 2012,\" Davis said. The Columbia presentation included the applicant and the department's references and work history in the years since his discharge.

Commission discussion emphasized the department's background documentation and the candidate's subsequent employment history in security and related roles. After a motion to approve the waiver, commissioners voted in favor; no roll-call breakdown was recorded on the transcript.

The approval allows Columbia Police Department to continue the hiring process for Fields under POST rules; the commission did not place additional conditions on the waiver in its public action. The transcript indicates the department prepared an extensive background report for commissioners to review.

Speakers

- Josh Davis, Captain, Columbia Police Department (agency representative)
- Corey Fields, Applicant (job candidate)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[{\"kind\":\"motion\",\"identifiers\":{},\"motion\":\"Approve military discharge waiver for Corey Fields (Columbia Police Department)\",\"mover\":null,\"second\":null,\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{},\"legal_threshold\":{},\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"No roll-call tally recorded in transcript; action approved by voice vote.\"}]

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"hire_date\",\"detail\":\"hired/processing date listed by agency\",\"value\":\"04/07/2025\",\"units\":\"date\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Josh Davis\"},{\"category\":\"military_discharge_date\",\"detail\":\"date of discharge referenced in records\",\"value\":\"06/21/2013\",\"source_speaker\":\"Corey Fields\"},{\"category\":\"child_custody\",\"detail\":\"court granted sole custody leading to duty conflicts\",\"value\":\"06/2013\",\"source_speaker\":\"Corey Fields\"}]

Proper_names

[{\"name\":\"Columbia Police Department\",\"type\":\"agency\"}]

Provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"654.915\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":85,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"My name is Josh Davis. I serve as captain with Columbia Police Department. This is Corey Field with us.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:10:54\",\"tc_end\":\"00:11:04\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"1040.01\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":45,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I have a motion to approve waiver and second. All in favor with motion, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Alright.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:17:20\",\"tc_end\":\"00:17:28\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience\":{\"overall\":0.42,\"overall_justification\":\"Local hiring decision with moderate public-safety relevance and human-interest element; not a change in statewide policy.\",\"impact_scope\":\"local\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Decision affects Columbia Police Department hiring only.\",\"attention_level\":\"medium\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Commission action on certification waivers is recurrent but matters to local community and prospective employee.\",\"novelty\":0.20,\"novelty_justification\":\"Standard personnel waiver; individual circumstances notable but not novel.\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.30,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Immediate for the candidate and department hiring timeline.\",\"legal_significance\":0.20,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Waiver invokes POST authority but does not change statute.\",\"budgetary_significance\":0.00,\"budgetary_significance_justification\":\"No budgetary action reported.\",\"public_safety_risk\":0.22,\"public_safety_risk_justification\":\"Subject relates to hiring of sworn personnel; commission reviewed past discharge reasons.\",\"environmental_impact\":0.00}}

","The Tennessee POST Commission voted to approve a military-discharge waiver for Columbia Police Department applicant Corey Fields, allowing his hiring to proceed after review of his background and circumstances surrounding a 2013 military discharge.","actionData","errors"]

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Tennessee POST approves military-discharge waiver for Columbia police applicant