On April 28, 2023, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy celebrated the graduation of thirty-four students at a commencement dinner held at the Elk’s Lodge. The ceremony was kicked off by Academy Director Barry Brown, who retires after eight years as the director of the program. He thanked the graduates for their commitment to the class and the sincere interest they had taken in getting to know their Sheriff’s Office. Brown also acknowledged the staff who assisted him, including Assistant Director/VIP Director Warren Hargis, Colleen Cluphf, Karri Johnson, Tami Miller, and Bob Miller.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy program is in its 26th year, and Sheriff Lowell Griffin expressed his appreciation for the graduates' eagerness to learn about their Sheriff’s Office and the men and women who work passionately to provide for the safety and security of Henderson County. The Sheriff also acknowledged the attendance of several other HCSO leaders at the ceremony.
The program, held from mid-January to mid-April, involved weekly sessions in which deputies and Sheriff’s Office staff from various divisions presented information to the participants. The graduates also had the opportunity to tour the Sheriff’s Office, Crime Lab, 911 Center, and VirTra firearms simulator. In addition, a variety of demonstrations and presentations from the SWAT team, EOD (Bomb Squad), K9 Deputies, Patrol Division, Court Security, Civil Process, CCW Process, Criminal Investigations Division, Detention Center, Animal Enforcement, School Resource Deputies & School Safety, Personal Safety, Crime Suppression, Volunteers in Partnership (VIP) Emergency Services, and others were conducted. All these topics and more were covered with ample time for questions and answers.
The next Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is scheduled to start in early 2024. All classes are held at the Sheriff’s Office at 100 North Grove St. in Hendersonville. Applications and information may be picked up in the Sheriff’s Office lobby or accessed on the Sheriff’s Office website: https://
Congratulations to the 2023 Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Graduates: Gina Allen, Carol Ault, David Benbow, Phyllis Benbow, Steve Clark, Carol Dembeck, Gerri Fore, Megan Garren, Ron Griffin, Sue Hendrickson, Bob Johnson, Johnny Johnston, Trent Jordan, Erik Jul, Jim Kessaris, Jim Kohout, Johnny LaCavalla, Jason Merchey, Tina Okpych, Ron Parker, Trudy Parker, Lewis Payne, Wendy Redmon, Ashley Reed, Lindsay Ridgley, Sarah Saunders, Fred Swindal, Lisa Szymanski-Richards, Bill Taylor, Janet Thew, Cindy Wrenn, George Wrenn, David Young, and Pam Young.
For more information about the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy program, please contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 697-4596.
