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FROM STAFF REPORTS

COLUMBIANA – On Thursday, Dec. 12 Cpt. Denver McCool graduated from the 292nd session of the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. McCool joins the top 1 percent of senior law enforcement worldwide who have completed 11 weeks of training in Quantico, Virginia, broadening his expertise in advanced communication, leadership, and fitness. His class of 257 law enforcement officers represented 27 countries, eight military organizations and five federal civilian organizations.

McCool, a native of Birmingham, began his law enforcement career at the Knoxville Police Department in 1998. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, McCool was assigned as an explosive detection K9, a position he continued upon joining the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 2004. In addition to being a K9 Deputy, McCool has been a field training officer, evidence technician, investigator and explorer advisor. He has served on the Project Lifesaver team and was the EOD liaison to the Hoover Police Department Bomb Squad for 12 years.

McCool was promoted to sergeant in 2014 and served as a patrol sergeant and K9 supervisor. In 2018 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and held the position of patrol shift commander. In November of 2021, he was reassigned to the Jail Division as the assistant division commander until being promoted to the rank of captain in October of 2023 and given command of the Jail Division.

McCool graduated from Auburn University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1997. He received his master’s in homeland security administration from Tiffin University in 2009. McCool graduated from the Leadership Shelby County class of 2022, the FBI’s LEEDA Leadership Trilogy, the 46th class of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy and attended the 2023 FBI Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar.

“I love to invest in our people and am proud of Cpt. McCool’s accomplishment,” Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said. “I know those under Cpt. McCool’s command, and the operational efficiency of the jail, will benefit from the advanced training FBI National Academy provides.”

Captain McCool joins other Command Staff members as an FBINA graduate, including Samaniego, Chief Clay Hammac, Major Jay Fondren, Major Russell Bedsole and Cpt. Mark Bishop.