Tennessee POST approves waivers to keep multiple departments, officers in compliance

The Tennessee POST Commission on June 20 approved a series of waivers and administrative actions intended to keep several officers and agencies in compliance with POST training rules while they complete missed academy or in‑service hours.

The commission approved a Tri Cities Airport Authority Police Department request to allow Michael Mendelson, who attended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy but did not complete due to a skills failure, to attend an alternate academy and granted a six‑month waiver tied to academy start dates. Captain Larry Nunley, representing the Tri Cities Airport Police Department, told the commission the requested academy site changed from Blount County Sheriff's Office to Walter State Police Academy and that the paperwork was updated to reflect that change.

The commission also approved administrative waivers for multiple officers from the Millersville Police Department and the Memphis Police Department to preserve agency compliance with POST guidelines while officers complete required hours. Millersville Chief Steven Hale told the commission the department found training‑tracking problems after he arrived this year and is taking steps to ensure officers complete required hours; he said one officer, Tiffany Vanciver (hired April 8, 2024), had completed 32 of the required 40 in‑service hours for 2024 and that the department is monitoring and supervising make‑up training.

Lieutenant Clyde, speaking for the Memphis Police Department, said several Memphis officers had partial completion — some at 32 hours and others with no in‑service reported — and explained that a number of those employees were in limited or administrative duty status and therefore had not attended certain firearms or in‑service training. The commission accepted that explanation and approved the waivers submitted to keep the officers and their departments compliant; staff noted officers on administrative or limited duty are not eligible for the salary supplement associated with full compliance until they complete required training.

Commissioner Green moved to approve the waivers; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote (all in favor). The commission noted that approval of a waiver does not eliminate follow‑up responsibilities: agencies must make completed hours available to POST and ensure officers finish required training when they return to full duty.

The approvals were taken as part of the meeting’s administrative and consent items and covered multiple named officers and agencies. POST staff said the waivers preserve agency compliance and avoid immediate disciplinary proceedings while the departments complete remedial training and documentation.

The meeting record shows the commission repeatedly emphasized agencies’ responsibility to track training and to bring officers back into full compliance as soon as practical.

Ending: The commission moved through these waivers as part of a broader consent agenda and closed the items after unanimous voice votes approving the requests.