East Tennessee Constable Association sets date and schedule for 2023 in-service training

Published 10:49 am Monday, August 7, 2023

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East Tennessee Constable Association President Kent Harris said in-service training will begin on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hamblen County Courthouse, 510 Allison Street in Morristown. Other training dates are Friday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m.
Chief Training Officer Ken Potter said 40 hours training is mandatory each year for a constable. Potter holds certifications from both Department of Safety/Homeland Security and Department of Commerce and Insurance for the State of Tennessee.
President Harris said use of force training will be elevated to a higher level this year to stay ahead of pending laws dealing with the use of force. In addition he said the constables will be trained on numerous topics. Other courses include child abuse, domestic violence, active shooter, officer survival, building searches, search and seizure, and serving civil process.
Firearms and Range Certification are also included in training. Any constable in the State of Tennessee will be eligible to attend the training by contacting President Harris. Training Officer Potter said training will be more vital than ever, with much focus on active shooter, de-escalation and use of force. Eric Reach, a well-known attorney, will be instructing civil procedure which is a big part of all constables’ duties. Attorney Jim Bowman will instruct in criminal law and courtroom testimony and other topics.
Harris said this has been a great year for the E.T.C.A. A state law was passed that certified the organization as a state training facility. The constables can receive all their training and get it approved at the same location. He said other new laws were passed and would be gone over during the training. He said all were good laws that assist the constable to stay within the scope of the law. State law 8-10-104 makes it mandatory that constables receive 40 hours training each calendar year and perform range qualification. Those records are kept on file with the E.T.C.A.
Instructors are Kenneth R. Potter, Constable 7th District of Carter County; Edward Tester, Post Certified Sheriff of Johnson County; S.A. retired Jerry Stout of Homeland Security; Attorney Eric Reach and Attorney Jim Bowman. The range date and location will be announced during the training. Certificates and awards will be given out Saturday, Sept. 23, after training. A business meeting will be held after training.
President Harris said in looking at the lineup of instructors and the topics being taught, this will be a great training class for all constables.
For information or to enroll, call President Harris at (423) 335-3775.

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