BCSO Citizen's Academy Alumni presents check for for Deputy McCowan and Deputy Eggers' funds

Blount County Sheriff’s Office Citizen's Academy Alumni Organization members presented a check for BCSO Deputy McCowan and BCSO Deputy Eggers' trust funds Tuesday afternoon.

The BSCOCAAA, which consists of alumni from the BSCO Citizen’s Academy, raised the money through member dues and donations from its members.

President and 2020 graduate Kevin McNeill said, “We voted on taking some of the organization’s funds to make those donations, and then one of the members during the meeting said, ‘how about we also take individual contribution from the membership?’”

$1,500 will be distributed to Deputy McCowan’s trust fund and $695 to Deputy Eggers’ assistance fund.

The Blount County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy is a free 12-week course led by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. Through the academy, citizens “learn about the day-to-day operations of the Blount County Sheriff's Office,” according to the BCSO website.

Participants in the academy are able to attend ride-alongs, demonstrations and various presentations.

BCSO Lt. Brad Butler said the academy “goes through everything the sheriff’s office has to offer to show the taxpayer where your money goes.”

The 34th class is set to graduate from the Citizen’s Academy on May 13.

Once someone graduates from the Citizen’s Academy, they are eligible to join the alumni association.

The alumni association holds formal quarterly meetings interspersed with special activities like watching the Blount Special Operations Team train and taking a small group tour of Smith & Wesson.

The alumni association also volunteers at various BCSO events, including Operation Safe Halloween and Shop with a Cop.

“We support our sheriff and our local police in any way possible,” said McNeill

The alumni association helps to facilitate officer of the month and officer of the year through the member fees, said Butler, presenting the honored officer with a monetary gift contributed by the alumni association.

The alumni association acts as police advocates, said McNeill, and works to “keep the community aware of how important our public safety is.”