Hendersonville officer decertified after subcommittee finds testimony under oath not credible

The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission informal subcommittee voted to decertify Willis (Will) Manley of the Hendersonville Police Department after testimony and department accounts raised concerns that he made false statements under oath and carried on an on‑duty romantic relationship with a complainant.

A Hendersonville representative, Lieutenant Neil Harris, told the subcommittee that Manley responded to a July 2024 call and later pursued a romantic relationship with the complainant, who was married to a local defense attorney. Harris said Manley initially was not truthful during an internal investigation and later admitted the relationship. Harris said Manley took reports and sought prosecution in at least one case involving the complainant’s husband while the relationship persisted.

Manley, who appeared and addressed commissioners, said he has a history of brain injuries that affected his memory and that he was scared and not prepared when subpoenaed to testify. He acknowledged giving misleading testimony on two occasions during court appearances and said he regretted how he handled his testimony and investigations.

Commissioners questioned whether statements under oath were material to proceedings and noted the presiding judge found his testimony not credible and had barred him from testifying in that judge’s cases. The district attorney’s office has not pursued perjury charges at this time, according to a subcommittee member.

Commissioner Wright moved to decertify; the subcommittee approved the motion by voice vote.

The subcommittee’s decertification is a formal action under POST rules. The investigator briefed the panel on next steps for administrative processing.