POST Commission approves training waivers, accepts late submissions to keep agencies in compliance

The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission on March 20 approved a package of training waivers and accepted late documentation from several police departments, voting that the measures would keep agencies and individual officers in compliance with state training rules.

The commission approved waivers for officers who missed mandated in‑service hours because of late hires, injuries, administrative leave or errors in lesson-plan submission. Staff presented each request with agency representatives available by phone or video; commissioners then moved to approve the waivers as routine corrective actions.

"Waivers keep the agency and the officer in compliance," a staff member said while introducing several items. The commission voted to approve waiver requests from Lawrence County, Brentwood, Clinton, Fentress, Gadsden, Hendersonville and multiple smaller jurisdictions.

Brentwood Captain Zach Hartman, who identified himself as the department's training coordinator, told commissioners his agency had submitted the paperwork and thanked the commission after the motion carried. "Thank you, commission," Hartman said, after the vote.

Several small towns described administrative or procedural causes for missing paperwork. Hendersonville officials explained that several reserve officers are volunteers with other full‑time jobs and had individual circumstances for missing hours; the commission approved a grouped motion to keep those officers in compliance after the departments pledged to make up required training.

The commission also accepted late lesson plans and training records from Gainesville and Johnson City police departments. Lieutenant Andy Clevenger of Johnson City said a range upgrade and range‑upgrades scheduling issue led to a missed lesson-plan submission; commissioners accepted the corrected documentation.

Chief Matthew Forsyth of Burns said a submission had been hung up in the system, and the commission accepted the late materials so the newly hired officer's file could be completed. "It was my fault," Chief Michael Smith of Gainesville said of his department's late lesson plan; the commission replied by approving the plan to ensure compliance.

Commissioners emphasized that approval of waivers and late submissions does not remove agencies' obligations to complete required training and that continued noncompliance can still lead to disciplinary review. The commission also noted it will continue to work with small jurisdictions that lack full‑time training officers to bring their records and Acadus entries into compliance.

The meeting included multiple other votes and administrative items; the commission set an October date for a West Tennessee meeting and adjourned after a staff personnel announcement.