KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Thursday, a graduation was held for Basic Recruit Class 2023-2 of the Knox County Sheriff's Office Regional Training Academy. Twenty-four recruits graduated during the ceremony after going through 12 weeks of training. Ten will be joining KCSO.
Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler said the graduates should be proud of the courage they have to enter the law enforcement profession.
"They need to know it and I address each class even before they start, or at least in their first week to let them know — if everybody wanted to do this job, if it was easy, everybody would want to do it," said Spangler. "And it's not easy. It's dangerous. And it's even more dangerous than it has been, and will continue to make sure that they understand that."
Tucker Blakely, a deputy who worked for KCSO, died in October after responding to a domestic call with his partner. Spangler said Blakely's death not only made an impact on the recruits but also on his department as a whole.
"It brought the realization of, 'Yes, this job is dangerous.' Here's the ultimate sacrifice that an officer can make," said Spangler. "And I'm sure that it made a difference to them. Some of them, you know, it may have, they may have not really thought about it as much, but I'm sure that they've implanted something into them that this is real, and it can happen — and in a snap of a finger."
Blakely was honored during the ceremony. A video was played to celebrate his life and service. His unit number, "Echo 19," was also retired.
"It's an honor to him and it's an honor to his wife, Katarina as well, to know that that memorialization means something and we want those individuals to know that that number is there, blank, and it's there for a reason," said Sheriff Spangler. "And when it's on the lineup, and that way it's recognized each and every day."
Katarina Blakely was in attendance and came on stage during the retirement.
Spangler says he's thankful to the community for their support each and every day, especially following Blakely's death.