Sheriff Austin Garrett Joins Governor Bill Lee at the Groundbreaking for Tennessee’s New Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Training Academy

Murfreesboro, TN - Yesterday, Sheriff Austin Garrett, along with sheriff’s from around the state representing the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, joined Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in Murfreesboro at the groundbreaking for the new $415 million Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Training Academy (MALETA). Also participating in the groundbreaking ceremony was Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton.

MALETA will include training facilities for state and local law enforcement, housing and dining for cadets and in-service staff, and a new administrative headquarters building for the Tennessee Department of Correction and the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. Law enforcement personnel from across the state will be able to receive training at MALETA.

MALETA will be constructed on approximately 800 acres of state-owned property along the Cumberland River in the Cockrill Bend area of Nashville. Phase one of construction will begin by Spring 2024, with the third and final phase of construction beginning in 2025.

MALETA facilities will be utilized by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI), Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA), Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDOS), Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for training local law enforcement, members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and corrections officers.