Everett wins prestigious award at police academy

  • Published
  • By Shawn Jacobs
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  When Arnold Police Lt. Dave Everett left to attend the police academy, the veteran policeman's goal was to fulfill a departmental requirement and learn some things in the process.

Everett, who is the installation plans and programs officer and alternate antiterrorism officer at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), returned with a prestigious leadership award and the admiration of his department and others.

Everett was awarded the Casey-Fowler-Williamson Leadership Award, which is presented by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) to an outstanding cadet who is employed by a police agency. The recipient is selected by the full-time faculty of the East Tennessee Regional law Enforcement Academy at Walters State Community College in Greeneville. He attended the academy Oct. 4 to Dec. 3.

At 56, Everett is the oldest AEDC officer to complete the academy at Walters State and among the oldest graduates of the academy itself. The Estill Springs resident is also the only Arnold Police officer to ever win the award.

"The police chief's award (as we call it) is awarded on the basis of performance and leadership capabilities that were demonstrated throughout the academy," Jeffrey T. Gazzo, training coordinator of the academy and assistant professor of criminal justice at Walters State, said. "What I learned from observing and interacting with Mr. Everett on a daily basis is that attitude and commitment have no age. Mr. Everett consistently kept a positive attitude throughout the academy and constantly impressed the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and openness to training to his classmates who were many years his juniors.

"Mr. Everett also demonstrated true leadership as a squad leader by not only directing the assigned tasks of his squad but also by actively assisting in the completion of those duties. Mr. Everett, also, despite his extensive previous experience, demonstrated an open-minded approach to his training."

Everett said the difference in him and the other cadets was quite noticeable.

"My roommate was 19," he said. "At the police academy there's one standard, and everybody has to adhere to that one standard. There is no variance for age or anything, so it was definitely challenging. I could not have made it if it weren't for the grace of God and many answered prayers."

The academics of the eight-week course of study were as challenging as the physical requirements.

"The curriculum is definitely difficult," Everett said. "By nature, it's written by academic personnel. It fulfills the requirements for an associate's degree in police science.

"I had no intentions of anything but being able to survive by nature of being older. But when I got there, there was a great group of guys, a great bunch of teamwork going on. I got a lot more that I gave, I know, because I learned a lot of the new guidance, new laws."

Everett said being presented the award at graduation by Arnold's own Police Chief Richard Trull made the honor even more emotional for him.

"Knowing Dave's ability, dedication and professionalism, I was not surprised in the least to hear he'd been nominated by the entire academy staff for this award," Trull said. "It was truly an honor for me to be able to travel to Walters State and present the award to Dave on behalf of the TACP. The fact that Dave represented our department, ATA [Aerospace Testing Alliance] and the Air Force to the state of Tennessee in such a positive and impressive manner is noteworthy.

"Dave is a valued member of our team. I depend on him continuously to provide the detailed analysis of federal, state and local laws that allows commanders to make informed decisions and our officers to maintain our high standard of security, integrated defense and enforcement."

Arnold Police Capt. Dan Hawkins, Installation Security Section supervisor, said Arnold Police recently became state-certified under the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission.

"As part of the POST certification, each officer who had not been to a state academy was required to go," Hawkins said. "Dave is part of the chief's staff and is a retired Air Force policeman, but he had to complete the academy for state certification. His completion nearly completes our departmental requirement for 100 percent POST compliance.

"Dave has been a tremendous asset for us and always approaches every task wholeheartedly. I am not surprised by his success at the academy."

Everett has more than 30 years experience as a police officer. In addition to Air Force training as a Security Police officer, he also attended the California Highway Patrol training program and has been a reserve sergeant with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department for 17 years.

He thanked ATA for making it possible for him to attend the training.

"It makes us a much more valuable asset for not only ATA but the community at large because of lot of things happen that aren't just military, " Everett said. "There are a lot of people who work here who aren't military, and I thank the company and my superiors for the opportunity to be able to do that because I think that it's a plus for me and it's a plus for them."