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POST rules on multiple hiring and academy waivers; denies a DUI‑related waiver
Summary
The commission denied a criminal‑record waiver for a Chattanooga applicant with a recent DUI, granted several military‑discharge and criminal‑record waivers (including Bryson Watson and Eric Lee), and authorized staff to administratively approve routine academy change waivers for non‑controversial cases.
At its Sept. 24 meeting the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission decided several candidate waivers and training‑academy requests.
Chattanooga Police Department presented Joseph James White for a criminal‑record waiver after a misdemeanor DUI in August 2024. Mr. White and Sgt. Michael Smith described the circumstances; Mr. White said he had satisfied court‑ordered fines and intended to begin an early‑hire program if granted a waiver. In questioning commissioners raised issues about what the trooper affidavit stated regarding an alleged altercation at the jail and whether Mr. White or others engaged correctional officers. Mr. White denied fighting correctional officers and said parts of the arrest affidavit grouped separate actors together. Commissioner Jefferson moved to deny the waiver; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
The commission granted a military‑discharge waiver for Bryson Kane Watson (Columbia Police Department), who had been discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps with a general under honorable conditions in March 2022; the request carried on a motion and voice vote. The Franklin Police Department’s request for a criminal‑record waiver for Eric Walker Lee (2013 military charges reduced; later honorable discharge and subsequent law‑enforcement service) was also approved after department representatives summarized his service record and training history.
Commissioners reviewed numerous other waivers on the consent agenda, approved several six‑month waivers where candidates are delayed by deployment or medical issues, and approved multiple military‑discharge waivers. On recurring change‑of‑academy waivers (where departments change a candidate’s academy due to scheduling or waitlists), commissioners debated whether staff should be allowed to administratively approve routine changes; after discussion they voted to permit staff to administratively approve non‑controversial change‑of‑academy waivers (particularly medical cases) provided a short summary is included on the consent packet so commissioners can pull items if needed.
The commission also approved reclassification paperwork for a Dyer Police Department officer found to be working full time and took no additional action, and it accepted a number of other routine consent‑agenda items.
The commission recorded motions and voice votes on these items; staff will complete follow‑up documentation and scheduling as required by each approval.
