POST refers suspended officers’ files to disciplinary committee for further action

The Tennessee POST Commission on June 20 voted to refer two suspended‑officer matters back to an informal disciplinary committee for continued administrative processing.

In the matter of Connor Aaron Cooper, attorney Jack Byrd told the commission that the TBI had completed interviews and turned investigative material over to a district attorney general’s office, but he had been unable to get a status update from prosecutors. Legal staff recommended returning the case to the informal disciplinary committee to start the POST process now that charges were not pending; the commission approved a motion to refer the case back to the committee and asked staff to coordinate scheduling with Mr. Byrd and the investigator.

On a separate suspended‑status matter for Tyler Cravens, counsel Jack Mitchell told commissioners that the underlying investigation appears to be time‑barred by the one‑year statute of limitations for the alleged misdemeanor incident in May 2024 and that no local DA had pursued charges. Legal recommended either taking no action or returning the matter to the committee; the commission voted to refer the matter to the informal disciplinary committee for processing.

In both cases commissioners instructed staff to reach out to the parties to schedule further administrative proceedings and hearings as needed. Attorney Byrd said he had a federal trial in August and requested scheduling consideration; commission staff agreed to coordinate dates.

Ending: Both suspended‑status files will proceed through POST’s informal disciplinary process with POST staff coordinating scheduling and next steps.