Staff – Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Our Staff at The Academy

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Tim Tester

Executive Director

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Bobby Nichols

Deputy Director

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Mike Martin

Training Coordinator

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Brett Jackson

Training Coordinator

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

Nick Ratliff

Training Coordinator

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Melissa Parsons

Dispatch Coordinator

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Wayne South

Staff Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

Robert Dooley

Staff Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Dewey Davenport

Staff Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Tony Sullivan

Adjunct Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Dr. Jeanette Loudy

Adjunct Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Justine South

Adjunct Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Charles Parsons

Adjunct Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

Jim Nida

Adjunct Instructor

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Darrell Dickenson

Foundation Manager

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

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Eric Ramey

Chaplain

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

Tim Tester started his law enforcement career in 1991 serving as a Deputy Sheriff, Patrolman, K-9 Officer, and Drug Task Force Officer. He joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as a Training Coordinator in 2005 and later served as the Deputy Director. He was appointed as the Executive Director in 2020. Tim holds an A.A.S. in Police Science from Walters State Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University.

Bobby Nichols began his law enforcement career in 2000 and served as a Patrolman, K-9 Officer, and Detective with the Bristol Virginia Police Department. He joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as a Training Coordinator in 2017. Bobby was appointed to serve as the Deputy Director in 2024.

Mike Martin began his corrections career in 2006 with the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, where he served as a Correctional Officer, Correctional Corporal, and PREA Coordinator. He became a Training Coordinator at the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in 2019.

Brett Jackson began his law enforcement career in 2015 with the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, where he served in various roles, including 911 Dispatcher, Court Security, Patrol Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Field Training Officer, and Special Response Team Operator. He joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as a Training Coordinator in 2024. Brett holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from King University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Liberty University.

Melissa Parsons started her career as a Dispatcher in 1992 and held various roles, including Lead Dispatcher, Trainer, Supervisor, and E-911 Coordinator, before retiring in 2022. She joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as the Dispatch Training Coordinator in 2020.

Wayne boasts a distinguished 28-year career in law enforcement, culminating as the Commander of the Training and Education Division for a mid-sized department in Florida.

Throughout his tenure, he has exemplified versatility, serving in multiple capacities including as a trainer, Field Training Officer (FTO), Polygraph Examiner, and adjunct instructor.

With over 25 years of instructional experience, Wayne joined the police training academy faculty in 2021. Committed to fostering leadership skills and advanced training methods, Wayne frequently conducts workshops across the nation. He possesses both an MBA and an MA in Criminal Justice, and his contributions to the field have earned him an induction into the National Society for Leadership and Success.

Wayne boasts a distinguished 28-year career in law enforcement, culminating as the Commander of the Training and Education Division for a mid-sized department in Florida.

Throughout his tenure, he has exemplified versatility, serving in multiple capacities including as a trainer, Field Training Officer (FTO), Polygraph Examiner, and adjunct instructor.

Robert Dooley

Dewey Davenport retired from the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail after 20 years of service. He is a DCJS certified general instructor with specializations in Defensive Tactics, Driving, and Firearms. Dewey is also a United States Army veteran having served in Operation Desert Storm.

Tony Sullivan has 31 years of law enforcement experience in Virginia, with a diverse range of assignments from patrol to Chief of Police. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Old Dominion University, a graduate certificate from Virginia Tech in Local Government Management, and is a graduate of the University of Richmond’s Professional Executive Leadership School. He also holds the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) Trilogy Award. Tony is a general instructor with specializations in defensive tactics, driver training, OC spray, and more, including collaboration with Hillsdale College to develop the Law Enforcement Constitution Course.

Jeanette Loudy retired from the Bristol Virginia Police Department after 25 years of service, with roles including patrol, domestic violence and sexual assault investigations, and school resource officer. She has been a DCJS certified instructor for 22 years and is a professor of graduate level justice studies and law. Jeanette has a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law and Public Policy.

Justine South retired from the Gainesville Florida Police Department after 24 years, serving in Patrol, the Forensics Crime Unit, and as a Background Investigator. She joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as an Adjunct Instructor in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work.

Chuck Parsons retired from the Virginia State Police after 29 years of service. During his career, he served as a Trooper, Tactical Team Member, Special Agent and Drug Unit Supervisor. He is the former head of the Clandestine Lab Response Program for the Virginia State Police and co-authored the policy manual for the Virginia State Police for handling clandestine lab incidents. Additionally, he assisted in the development of the meth lab Best Practices Protocols that was approved by the General Assembly in 2005, which details policies and procedures for police and law enforcement agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is also jointly responsible for the development and institution of the policies and procedures currently utilized by the Department of State Police for fentanyl response. Chuck is a DCJS certified instructor and he has presented Methamphetamine and Drug Awareness training programs to hundreds of first responders across the Commonwealth. He also provides expert testimony and consultation for prosecutors throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia for Methamphetamine and other drug related prosecutions. Chuck graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Jim Nida began his law enforcement career in 1980 with the Chesapeake, VA Police Department after active-duty service in U.S. Army. In 1986 Jim moved to the Fairfax County Police Department where he served twenty-two years before retiring in 2008. His service included assignments with Patrol, SWAT, Community Services, and leading a joint force counter-terrorism project with federal and state law enforcement partners.

From 2008 to 2025 Jim worked in the U.S. and overseas as a security director and program manager in support of the National Security Framework.

Since the mid 1990’s, Jim served as an adjunct instructor at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy in Fredericksburg, VA. Jim holds DCJS certifications as a General, Firearms, and Defensive Tactics Instructor.

In 2025 Jim and his wife retired and moved to Abingdon, where he works as a consultant for executive protection and technical security.

Darrell Dickenson began his law enforcement career in 2005, serving as a Jailor, Patrol Deputy Sheriff, Accreditation Manager, and Training Sergeant. He joined the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as a Training Coordinator in 2020.

Eric Ramey has been the Chaplain for the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy since 2020, while also serving as the Senior Pastor for Zion Hill Baptist Church in Radford, Virginia, for over 22 years. Additionally, he works full-time in the pharmaceutical industry and holds an M.B.A. from King University.

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Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

1595 Bonham Rd, Bristol, VA 24201

Phone: (276) 645-3700

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Our Staff at The Academy

Tim Tester

Bobby Nichols

Mike Martin

Brett Jackson

Nick Ratliff

Melissa Parsons

Wayne South

Robert Dooley

Dewey Davenport

Tony Sullivan

Dr. Jeanette Loudy

Justine South

Charles Parsons

Jim Nida

Darrell Dickenson

Eric Ramey

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1595 Bonham Rd, Bristol, VA 24201