Shelby County sheriff's office asks POST to decertify deputy over alleged misuse of license-plate reader; temporary suspension agreed

Chief Inspector Carla Allen of the Chevy County Sheriff's Office told the Tennessee Post Commission that investigators seek decertification of Deputy Thaddeus Gordon for alleged misuse of department equipment to stalk his ex-wife.

"We did determine that the information that she had provided was accurate," Carla Allen said, summarizing her agency’s investigation. Allen said investigators found Gordon made 168 inquiries about the woman and her vehicle between July 11 and Aug. 4 and that the deputy used license-plate reader queries and allegedly a burner phone to send targeted messages. The agency presented stalking, harassment and truthfulness violations as grounds for decertification.

Chelsea Fuller, counsel for Gordon, told commissioners the deputy’s criminal case is pending in Shelby County and that a trial or hearing was scheduled for Oct. 23. Fuller said Gordon preferred to continue the matter until the underlying criminal case was resolved so he could present a full defense before the POST panel.

Commissioners discussed options including a pending-litigation suspension and a temporary suspension lasting until the criminal process concludes. Counsel for Gordon later confirmed Gordon would accept a temporary suspension. The commission approved an agreed temporary suspension and continued the matter to be readdressed later; the panel discussed scheduling constraints that could push a full resolution into November or December if parties opted to await the criminal case.

The record shows the agency’s disciplinary and criminal processes remain active; the commission’s temporary suspension preserves the commission’s options while the criminal case proceeds.

Because the matter remains under criminal adjudication, commissioners did not make a final determination on decertification at this informal hearing.