04/13/2022
Congratulations.
The Fayetteville Police Department would like to congratulate Nathan Simmons for graduating the Blount County Sheriff’s Department Training Academy Class 024. Officer Simmons underwent twelve weeks of law enforcement training, including criminal law, community-oriented policing, patrol tactics, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, fi****ms, and physical fitness.
Of the 39 recruits, Officer Simmons won the “William D. Nuchols Outstanding Officer Award.” This award honors the recruit who displays overall leadership qualities and overall achievement. The award is named in honor of William D. Nuchols, a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty in 1956 in a car crash while responding to a call.
Additionally, Officer Simmons was recognized and honored as the Travis Parker Memorial Scholarship recipient. This scholarship was awarded by Maryville residents Tony and Hazel Hughes in recognition of son Travis Parker who was tragically killed in an automobile accident several years ago. It was Travis’s dream to become a law enforcement officer.
As part of the Travis Parker Memorial Scholarship, recruits were required to write a 500-word essay about why they wanted to become an officer. Officer Simmons was honored to write of his inspiration, his father, the late Manuel Ray Simmons. Deputy “Manny” Simmons was a retired 25 year veteran of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, where he served with distinction on patrol and in criminal investigations. We have no doubt Nathan will carry on the same proud honor and tradition.