After serving over a decade with various police agencies in his hometown of Claiborne County, Tennessee, one police officer’s dream of becoming a state trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol is coming true.
K-9 Officer and Tazewell Police Sgt. Shawn Goode worked his last day for the city in late January. In a bon voyage celebration with his co-workers at Tazewell City Hall, Goode was presented with a memory box featuring a photo of himself and his K-9 partner Neco, his badge and a thank you plaque for his service to the city.
The following week, his friends, family members and former co-workers gathered together to celebrate the milestone in Goode’s life, reminiscing how his law enforcement career began and talking about how tough the weeks ahead will be as Goode began his training on Feb. 1.
Goode has been in law enforcement since shortly after he graduated high school. His career in law enforcement began at the entry level in 2001, when he was hired as a correctional officer at the Claiborne County Jail. Goode says from that moment on, he knew he wanted to be a state trooper and he began planning what steps he needed to take to reach what he describes as his goal.
“It has been a lifelong dream,” said Goode. “I set that as the goal and began taking the necessary steps to make it happen.”
Goode left the jail in 2003 when he was accepted into the police academy, which he successfully completed and became a Claiborne County Resource Officer later that same year. Goode remained a resource officer for approximately one year before becoming a road officer in 2004. In 2005, Goode was promoted to the Claiborne County K-9 officer and remained with the county until 2006 when he began working for the Tazewell Police Department. In 2008, he was promoted to K-9 Officer and in 2010 he was made sergeant. Goode’s outstanding police work earned two awards in 2011 —he was named Regional DUI Officer of the Year and Regional Officer of the Year.
Although his resume thus far in his career was one to be proud of, the aspiring state trooper felt compelled to further his education while working full time and taking care of his family.
“I felt continuing my education was an important factor in becoming a state trooper,” explained Goode.
Graduating with honors, Goode received his criminal justice degree from Walter State Community College in 2015. Shortly afterward he applied with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and was accepted as a state trooper.
Goode says he is excited at the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream even though he knows it will be hard being apart from his family during his training. Goode and his wife of 11 years, Sherry, have three daughters — Rylie 9, Aubrey, 2, and Harper, 11 months.
Goode currently does not know exactly where he will be stationed upon completion of his training in June but is excited at the opportunity to live out his dream.
Reach Reina P. Cunningham at 606-302-9091 or on Twitter @ReinaDailyNews
