The Town of Greeneville Police Department would like to congratulate four new officers, Jenna Handshoe, Austin Ladd, Tanner O’Laughlin, and Mark Trent, on their completion of Walters State Community College Law Enforcement Academy. A graduation ceremony took place March 16 at 10 a.m. at the Walters State Morristown campus. Class 127 was composed of 44 regional officers, deputies, and students. Ladd was recognized at the graduation ceremony with the Firearms award, scoring a perfect score of 750.
The Academy is a comprehensive nine-week program, totaling 480 hours. It was established in 1986, and according to Walters State, has been ranked among the nation’s premier training centers for law enforcement officers.
The four Greeneville officers were sworn-in to their positions in January and began the academy shortly after.
Jenna Handshoe is originally from Elkhart, Indiana. She moved to Greeneville in 2003 to start the women’s lacrosse team at Tusculum University, where she coached until August 2018. Handshoe has a Doctorate of Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial University. Recently, she spent two years working at the Greene County jail. In August 2022, Handshoe was hired as a Greeneville Auxiliary Police Officer. She stated, “I’ve always wanted to be a police officer. I waited for a chance to get my foot in the door.” Handshoe loves being outside, kayaking, fishing, and playing with her two dogs.
Austin Ladd is from the Fingerlakes region of New York state. His family moved to Tennessee two years ago. He has been volunteering on ambulances since he was 16. He completed Basic EMT training in New York, and advanced EMT training in Tennessee. He worked for Newport EMS for a year before getting a job with Greene County EMS. Ladd said, “I’ve always wanted to go into law enforcement, but I had to wait until I was 21.” Ladd enjoys responding to calls. He says it is rewarding to work with the community and to help people. He also enjoys the mountains and outdoors, camping, hiking, and archery. He and his wife, Rayonna, were married in October.
Tanner O’Laughlin grew up in Baileyton and attended North Greene High School. He served in the Air Force, where he was stationed in California for three years and North Carolina for two years. Additionally, he had active tours in Qatar, Iraq, and Lebanon. While in the service, he completed his associate degree in logistics at Walters State Community College. Since the Air Force, he has come very close to completing his Bachelor of Science in business from ETSU. In civilian life, he missed the camaraderie and sense of purpose and duty that he had experienced in the military, so he decided to join the National Guard. His latest adventure, and his calling, is in law enforcement. O’Laughlin married his high school sweetheart, Shayna, and they have a one-year-old son. He says that he feels like he’s hit the lottery with his life. In his free time, he enjoys CrossFit and hunting.
Like O’Laughlin, Mark Trent grew up in Baileyton and attended North Greene High School. Trent is no stranger to the service, as his father, Vince Mullins, was a Tennessee State Trooper for 27 years, and earned accolades such as Trooper of the Year in 2013 and 2016. Trent earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. He has been a personal trainer in Knoxville and worked as a manager at a local Food City grocery store. He says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Greeneville Police Department.” Trent’s wife, Shauna, is an RN. The couple has three dogs, and they enjoy following the Tennessee Volunteers in football and the Carolina Tarheels in basketball.
The new officers will be taking a few weeks off before starting full time at the department.
