Tennessee Police Department Rocked by Scandal gets Shut Down by State
Comments Below: 4
Small town politics get even messier as the state of Tennessee shuts down the entire Calhoun Police Department. Police Chief Steven Hughes tendered his resignation this past Thursday... The same day officials with state's Police Officer Standards and Training shut down the department because none of the officers were certified. The Daily Post Athenian says Hughes planned to attend the Police Academy at Cleveland State Community College this summer. The McMinn County Sheriff's Department will be responsible for policing Calhoun until further notice. --- The small McMinn County town has been in the spotlight since the TBI began an investigation there late last year. After the December 8th City Commission meeting, newly elected Commission members Clifton Coleman, Billy Nichols and Carlos Liner allegedly broke into the police department. According to then Police Chief Julie Tanksley, the locks on doors to her office and to evidence rooms were changed, two filing cabinets were broken into, and a grand jury file on one of the newly elected Commissioners was taken. At that same December meeting, the Mayor and new Commission members voted to mandate all patrol cars must be kept within the city limits at all times. They also voted to remove the tinting from patrol car windows. City Manager Joe Bryan and re-elected Commissioner Larry Holland immediately resigned when these motions were passed. Joe Shudan was chosen to replace Bryan as City Manager. He abruptly resigned in March and was replaced by David Wilson. Wilson's first order of business as City Manager was firing the entire police department. In April, City Recorder Linda Dale and City Attorney Robert Sherwood resigned. Dale cited health reasons. Sherwood said he was unable to balance personal and professional ethics with the actions of the City Commission. The Calhoun Commission's next regular meeting will be on June 1st at the city's Municipal Building.
What a Joke!!!!!
Submitted by Faye Sayne (not verified) on May 11, 2009 - 5:38pm.
Ha! This whole mess blew up in somebody's face. Best thing that happened to the little town of Calhoun. I live on the outskirts of Calhoun, and never found there to be a problem when Tanksley was chief. My momma always told me that "what goes around comes around" and "if it goes around your belly, it will come back between your legs." I can't keep from wondering if there is more going on then mets the eye. Why did the "good old boys" come in so quickly? Why was there not an election? What was up with all of the secret meetings going on? By the way, the Sunshine law was broken many times on this issue and everyone of these "good old boys" were ignorant or completely crazy.
That in itself is law breaking and the State may have something to say about that before it's over. What was such a secret in these meeting that couldn't be made public? I'm telling you Calhoun Citizens, WAKE UP!!! Something stinks in Denmark, but it doesn't hold a candle to Calhoun. Dig folks, find out what's going on in your little city. Faye Sayne
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Calhoun police dept
Submitted by M.D.Thomas (not verified) on May 10, 2009 - 10:09am.
So now the fallout starts. The city leaders thinking that this was the 1900's. That they could do anything they wanted, and nobody would notice.
The good old boy's club looks to be in trouble. If we are lucky they will all be placed in a nice vacation location that the state provides with bars.
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I tried to tell you this
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on May 9, 2009 - 6:57pm.
I tried to tell you this would happen. When small-town "somebodies" [meaning they're TWO payments ahead of bankruptcy] get their hands on the local government, they automatically become Alexander the Great with the wisdom of Solomon. And hiring a "chief" who's planning to become a 9-week-wonder academy graduate: Classic.
You'll PRAY for Tanksly back before the State's done with you!
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Someone on the commision had
Someone on the commision had a conflict with the police department which must have started this. They should been investigated for holding secret meeting which is against the sunshine law which reads very vaguely. If they were doing a good job what the heck let them get thier certifications an keep there jobs in these days its very hard to find work. If they had conflicts with people which were against the law investigate them but now when someone has a problem they have to depend on another county's police department which could take to long for response an result into someone getting hurt