SHORTAGE IS AFFECTING LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS HERE IN THE
TRI-CITIES ARE
STRUGGLING TO FILL OPEN JOBS.
A NEW PROGRAM AT THE "TENNESSEE
COLLEGE OF
APPLIED TECHNOLOGY" IS WORKING
TO CHANGE THAT.
PHEBEN KASSAHUN TAKES US INSIDE
THE CLASSROOM.
SARA AND JOSH...
THIS NEW PROGRAM TAKES EIGHT
MONTHS TO COMPLETELY
TRAIN STUDENTS TO BE JOB-READY
AS A CORRECTIONAL
OFFICER.
IT'S THE FIRST COURSE OF ITS
KIND IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
"THERE ARE NO OTHER PROGRAMS IN
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE THAT
HANDLES CORRECTIONS THE WAY
WE'RE HANDLING IT."
TCAT ELIZABETHTON INSTRUCTOR
MYLES COOK IS
TEACHING A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS
IN THE COLLEGE'S CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE GO OVER SOME OF THE BASICS,
DEFENSIVE TACTICS, THINGS
LIKE THAT, THEN WE GO OVER
THINGS THAT ARE NOT GENERALLY
TAUGHT IN CORRECTIONS.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE USE,
STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO PROCESS AN
INMATE, MAINTAIN
ORDER IN THE JAIL AND IMPLEMENT
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES.
"SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE MENTALLY ILL,
ANYTHING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN
IN A JAIL IS KIND OF WHAT
WE'RE TRAINING FOR.
WE'RE COMING AT IT VERY
DIFFERENTLY THAN HOW IT'S TAUGHT
IN
THE PAST."
COOK SAYS THE COURSE HAS
SOMETHING OTHER TENNESSEE
TECHNICAL COLLEGES DO NOT HAVE.
"WE HAVE ACTUALLY BUILT A JAIL
CELL, HERE IN OUR LAB.
TCAT ELIZABETHTON SERVICES FIVE
COUNTIES: CARTER,
JOHNSON, SULLIVAN, UNICOI AND
WASHINGTON.
"THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
PROGRAM.
I'LL HAVE THEM COME IN AND ALSO
HELP WITH THE PROGRAM AND
TEACH THE PROGRAM, PARTS OF IT,
TO THE WAY THEY NEED AND
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'LL NEED AND
THE PEOPLE THEY'LL WANT TO
HIRE."
(GRAPHIC)
CURRENTLY, JOHNSON CITY PD IS
SHORT OF 16 OFFICERS,
KINGSPORT PD HAS 10 POSITIONS
AVAILABLE AND THE HAWKINS COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS FOUR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
POSITIONS...
"WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS TO GIVE
THEM A PRODUCT IN THE WAY OF A
STUDENT THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE."
STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE FIRST
TRIMESTER WILL RECEIVE A
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER APPRENTICE
CERTIFICATE.
STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE BOTH
TRIMESTERS WILL RECEIVE A
MASTER
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
CERTIFICATE.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION AND
RIGHT HERE IN OUR REGION ARE
PAYING TRIBUTE TODAY TO SLAIN
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR.
