KPD e-Press Release: Kingsport Police Explorer Post Brings Home Multiple Awards From Winterfest

General Narrative

Employees of the Kingsport Police Department, with sponsorship and funding by the Fraternal Order of Police, established Law Enforcement Explorer Post #185 in 1988. Explorers are a branch of the Boy Scouts of America. The Kingsport Police Department’s Explorer Post is an organization that enables area youth, male and female, to participate in many types of educational and recreational activities. The purpose of this program is to allow young people, who are interested in law enforcement as a career, to learn and experience the many aspects of this profession.

Over the recent weekend of February 7-9, 2014, the Kingsport Police Department’s Explorer Post #185 attended Winterfest. Winterfest is a competitive event and leadership training weekend held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee every year. Winterfest has occurred every year for more than 30 years. In 2014, more than 3,100 participants, representing 47 Explorer Posts from across the Southeast, converged on Gatlinburg for a great weekend of fun, events, and fellowship.

This year, the K.P.D. Explorer Post brought back multiple awards including:

1st Place: Officer Survival

2nd Place: Active Shooter

4th Place: DUI Traffic Stop

4th Place: Warrant Service

5th Place: Class A Uniform Inspection

7th Place: Burglary in Progress

The Kingsport Police Explorers presently consist of the following members:

1) Caleb Deal

2) Michelle Siple

3) Rachel Barkley

4) Matthew Perry

5) Kyle Nannie

6) Kerri McQueen

7) Cara Lowe

8) Haley Head

9) Dominique Neal

Law Enforcement Advisiors for Explorer Post #185 include:

1) Detective Justin McConnell, Kingsport Police Department

2) Officer Nathan Russell, Kingsport Police Department

3) Officer Andy Goddard, Kingsport Police Department

4) Officer Brandon Ferrell, Kingsport Police Department

5) Detective Corporal Martin Taylor, Kingsport Police Department

6) Probation and Parole Officer Laura McConnell, State of TN Dept. of Corrections

The Kingsport Police Department is very proud of our Explorers and extremely pleased with their exceptional performance at this year’s Winterfest.

The K.P.D. Explorer Post is open to area young people of good character between the ages of 14 and 21 years old. Anyone who may be interested in joining Post #185 is asked to contact Detective Justin McConnell for more information. He can be reached by phone at 423-229-9355 or by email at JustinMcConnell.

For additional information, please contact:

Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

K.P.D. Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433

ThomasMPatton@KingsportTN.gov

K.P.D. Professional Standards Unit