Tennessee Police Benevolent Association

06/12/2026

Please join us in congratulating Lt. Matt Cousins, who celebrated his retirement from the Bristol Tennessee Police Department today after nearly 17 years of distinguished service.

Lt. Cousins joined the BTPD in 2009 – after serving the Kingsport Police Department and Second Judicial Drug Task Force - and was assigned to the specialized K9 Unit soon afterward, working first as partner to K9 Larco and, later, K9 Kai. Trained and certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association, they worked together to make Bristol a safer community. Even after Kai’s passing last year, Lt. Cousins continued to supervise the K9 Unit, lending his expertise and deep affection for animals to the City’s remaining K9 teams. During his long BTPD tenure, he also served as Senior Police Officer, SWAT Team Leader, Field Training Officer, Critical Incident Stress Debriefer, Child Safety Seat Technician, and Fi****ms Instructor. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2021.

Remarkably, his public service career actually began while he was still in high school. He joined the Maryland Army National Guard at the age of 17, then transitioned into active-duty status with the US Army – a member of the 187th Infantry Regiment’s highly decorated “Iron Rakkasans.” Later, as a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard, he was deployed to Iraq, where he provided security during that country’s first democratic election in decades.

Thank you, Lt. Cousins, for your compassion, your courage, and your commitment while serving our community and our great nation. We wish you many years of happiness and continued good health as you begin an exciting new chapter. Godspeed, Friend!

06/11/2026

BARTLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT added photos to the album: 2026 Awards
Please join us in congratulating Officer M. Hardgrave, our Employee of the Month for April 2026. Known affectionately by citizens as "the Facebook guy," Officer M. Hardgrave does an outstanding job managing our social media platforms and engaging with the community. He also dedicates significant effort to organizing our CPA and YCPA programs, helping participants gain valuable insights into police work while building meaningful connections with our officers. Officer M. Hardgrave is a friendly, outgoing, and dependable professional who consistently represents our department with pride and excellence.

06/11/2026

City of Franklin, TN - Municipal Government
Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the Franklin Police Department family!
Pictured from left to right are Justyn Rhodes, Charles Chapel, and Kevin Hoffman.
Rhodes joins us as a lateral transfer from the Eagleville Police Department, bringing valuable law enforcement experience to our team. Chapel and Hoffman are beginning their law enforcement careers with Franklin and are eager to serve our community.
We are excited to have all three of these men on board and look forward to watching them grow as they begin their journey with the Franklin Police Department.

06/09/2026

Tennessee Highway Patrol
Congratulations to Tennessee State Troopers Clint McKissack and Stacy Wigand on graduating from the University of Tennessee’s LEIC National Forensic Academy in Knoxville today.
The prestigious 10-week program provides advanced training in forensic evidence collection and crime scene investigation, equipping law enforcement professionals with the latest techniques and best practices in the field.
Members of Tennessee Highway Patrol command staff were on hand to support and recognize Troopers McKissack and Wigand as they reached this significant professional milestone.
Their dedication to continuing education and excellence in forensic investigations strengthens our mission to serve and protect the people of Tennessee.
Please join us in congratulating Troopers McKissack and Wigand on this outstanding achievement.

06/09/2026

Shelbyville Police Department
Please join us in congratulating Officers Michael Copley, Austin King, and T.J. Teal on being recognized by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Handle With Care Program.
These officers were presented with the TBI Handle With Care Award in recognition of their commitment to identifying and supporting children who have experienced traumatic events. Through the Handle With Care initiative, first responders notify schools when a child has been exposed to a traumatic incident, allowing educators to provide additional support and understanding during a difficult time.
Thank you, Officers Copley, King, and Teal, for your dedication to serving the children and families of our community. Your compassion and commitment make a difference every day.

06/08/2026

Thank you to the Knox County Board of Education, who unanimously approved naming the security office at Austin-East Magnet High School after Lt. Gordon Gwathney.

Lt. Gwathney, a nearly 30-year KPD veteran, unexpectedly passed away in October 2025 and served as Austin-East’s first-ever School Resource Officer from 1999-2003. During that time, he built countless lasting relationships and became affectionately known throughout the community as Officer G.

06/05/2026

Sevierville Police Department
Happy retirement Officer Ford!
We celebrated the retirement of Officer Steve Ford last week. Steve served his community for 26 years, with 19 of those as a School Resource Officer. We already miss him, and we're sure the school and students will as well.
"We are so proud of his service to the Sevierville Police Department, our community, and to the the SRO program," said SPD Chief Joseph Manning. "His professionalism in the schools was recognized and appreciated by staff, parents, and students."
We wish you the best, enjoy your retirement!

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Join us in honoring the memory of Johnny Bohanan as we mark the fourth anniversary of his passing from stomach cancer.

The Southern States Police Benevolent Association and the Police Benevolent Foundation continue to mourn the passing of Detective Johnny Bohanan of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee. Johnny was a valued and respected PBA leader. He served as the president of the Smoky Mountains Chapter and as the Tennessee Division president. He was also a Southern States PBA Board member.

06/02/2026

Here's a bit of exciting news that we couldn't wait to share! Students and families from Avoca Elementary all know and love School Resource Officer Josh Graham, but his positive influence is being recognized far beyond Bristol. Next week, Officer Graham will travel to the LEAD - Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence national training conference where he will be recognized as the LEAD Instructor of the Year for Tennessee for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the program.

We'll have more information and photos to share then, but for now, join us in sending our heartfelt congratulations to Officer Graham for all he does to keep our community safe and for his leadership in helping our children understand the importance of making safe and healthy decisions.