The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission on Oct. 17 approved a series of waivers for applicants and agencies after hearings that included sworn testimony, agency recommendations and questions from commissioners.

The commission approved a criminal-record waiver for Johnson Thomas Rucker Jr., hired by the Chapel Hill Police Department on Sept. 8, 2025. Chief Andrew Conn presented the request and Rucker addressed commissioners about a 2012 DUI conviction, subsequent probation issues and his conduct since. "Since I got the DUI, it changed me. It was a lesson learned," Rucker said, describing completed court requirements and current employment. A motion to approve the waiver passed with all commissioners voting in favor; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Russell.

The commission also granted a military-discharge waiver for Jacob Bing Dearman, whose discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps was upgraded from other-than-honorable to general under honorable conditions after an appeal. Captain Tracy Grisham and the applicant described the upgrade and Dearman’s subsequent corrections employment; commissioners approved the waiver.

A longer, emotional hearing involved Morgan McDonald Clough, an auxiliary/chaplain candidate for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office who sought a military-discharge waiver. Major Don Bivens and several community speakers described Clough’s decades of community service as a chaplain and pastor. Commissioners noted Clough’s reported sobriety date and the applicant’s successful effort to have his discharge changed to honorable. Commissioners voted to approve the waiver.

Separately, Ponce County Sheriff's Office requested and received approval to allow Kenneth James Wilson to transfer academies and attend an academy in January 2026 after a leave of absence prevented completion of an earlier class. Williamson County’s request for a six-month rule waiver for Cindy Alexia Hillman, who could not begin training for medical reasons, was also approved; Hillman is scheduled for the next available Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy class.

Commissioners recused themselves where conflicts were identified; in one Monroe County matter, a commissioner said he would vote despite a personal acquaintance after confirming the legal standard for recusal in that case. Several approvals were routine and were handled on the consent agenda.

Commissioners and agency representatives emphasized rehabilitation and community service as factors in granting waivers. Major Don Bivens told the commission the Monroe County applicant had been a local chaplain since 2017 and had performed military funerals and community outreach. "He's an outstanding member of our community," Bivens said.

The commission did not place additional conditions on the granted waivers in the public record beyond the approvals.

The meeting's approvals cleared multiple personnel items that allow sponsoring agencies to proceed with hiring, academy assignments and auxiliary appointments.