Carter County Constables are ramping up for their annual training and certification sessions, and this year they have more options for weeks in which they can do them.

Commander Bobby Trivette, president of the Carter County Constables Association, said they have been hosting training classes annually since roughly 1982.

“We normally do it in June or August,” Trivette said. “Originally, we did the training with the Sheriff’s Office.”

Ken Potter, another constable, is hosting his training and certification week during April, and Trivette said the two classes are mostly identical.

As to why there are identical classes with the same material, he said there was a disagreement, but did not go into detail.

“We had an election last May,” he said. “Some feelings were hurt. […] We do not have any animosity.”

He said there is no preference over which course constables should take, only that constables need 40 hours of training per year in order to keep their certification.

“We are not trying to hurt or condemn anyone,” Trivette said.

Both classes will feature the same material, including what to do when entering a crime scene, what to do when pulling over a vehicle and more.

Trivette said they heard about Potter’s course in last week’s edition of the paper which showcased the class, and said they wanted to get the word out, comparing the classes to car sales.

“You can choose which sale to participate in,” he said. “You will receive the same benefit.”

The June course will take place between June 3 through June 12, with a firing range session on June 8.

Those interested in signing up for the June session can do so by calling Trivette at 423-957-6003. Like Potter’s class, there is a registration fee. They said the fee per person is $30.

“The Tennessee Constables Association also puts one out in August, so constables can attend that training session as well,” he said.