On August 16, 2018, Detective Sergeant Gary Bean graduated from the fifth class of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Leadership Academy.  He is the first member of the Morristown Police Department (MPD) to attend this program. 

This academy consisted of ten participants; five were TBI supervisors and five were local government supervisors.  According to the TBI’s website, the academy was created “to enhance leadership training for Tennessee law enforcement executives.”  The academy is a two-week academy and features world-renowned speakers.  One speaker that Sgt. Bean was fond of was Robert White, a speaker who presents material based on the book Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement on behalf of Dr. Kevin Gilmartin.  According to Bean, the material is how law enforcement personnel have a different perspective from those who do not work in public safety. 

Sergeant Bean stated, “The academy was interesting and geared towards a higher standard for law enforcement executives.  It was focused on teaching leaders how to handle and manage personnel on an emotional level, as well as, how to retain good officers through the right training and mentoring.”

Bean has been with the MPD for more than 19 years.  He worked his way up the ranks from patrolman to Narcotics/Vice Detective Corporal.  He was promoted to Detective Sergeant and assigned to General Investigations in 2014.  In 2018, he was transferred back to Narcotics/Vice to help oversee operations.  Sergeant Bean has a wealth of knowledge in narcotics.  Prior to being assigned to General Investigations, he taught and still continues to teach about narcotics to local businesses, churches and other organizations. 

MPD Chief Roger Overholt stated, “Training such as this allows MPD personnel as individuals and as an organization to become more knowledgeable and more effective in serving our community.”

***Pictured from left to right are MPD Detective Captain Chris Blair and MPD Detective Sergeant Gary Bean