POST informal subcommittee reviews multiple decertification cases; two officers decertified or defaulted, others deferred

At an informal subcommittee meeting of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, members heard multiple cases involving submitted terminations and alleged misconduct by sworn officers and took mixed actions ranging from decertification to probationary agreements and no-action findings.

The cases presented included a recommended decertification for a former Johnson City officer accused of misusing criminal justice databases; a request to decertify a Lebanon officer who resigned during an internal investigation into sexual conduct at a school; a default decertification where a subject failed to appear after proper service; a no-action finding on a Rutherford County deputy after the subcommittee reviewed body-worn and dash-camera footage; and a no-action decision for a Tennessee Department of Safety trainee who did not complete field training. The subcommittee also directed follow-up and agreement drafting in a separate certification-compliance matter for Henry Police Department leadership (see separate article).

Why it matters: POST certification decisions determine whether an individual may lawfully serve as a peace officer in Tennessee agencies and can affect agency access to law-enforcement systems (for example, NCIC/CJIS) and public trust. The subcommittee’s mixed actions reflect a case-by-case approach driven by the available evidence, agency discipline records, and, in some matters, the willingness of other agencies to supervise or rehabilitate the subject.

Most significant outcomes and supporting detail

- Kelly Young (Johnson City): The subcommittee discussed an investigation presented by Lieutenant David Hill alleging unauthorized queries of an integrated criminal justice portal (Watson/NCIC) and the subsequent suspension of her access by FBI/CJIS authorities. The department reported multiple non-work-related queries and that the FBI was notified. Counsel and the officer described personal stressors, counseling efforts, and a letter from Washington County’s sheriff offering to place Young on a one-year monitored probation if Washington County hired her. After debate about public trust, criminal referral status, and supervision arrangements, the subcommittee voted to pursue a one-year probationary agreement monitored by POST, with an informal reset for the full commission next month to finalize a written agreed order. The recorded vote on the informal motion was 2 in favor, 1 opposed; the motion carried.

- Brian Gilley (Lebanon): Lieutenant Eddie Brown presented an internal investigation summary alleging sexual activity on a school campus, in uniform, and misleading the investigator during the inquiry. Gilley’s counsel, Bennett Wills, said Gilley resigned and asked the subcommittee to take no action; the department urged decertification. After questioning and discussion of honesty and risk to the school community, the subcommittee voted to decertify Gilley. The chair announced the motion carried.

- Brandon Keith Grady (Lewis County): Grady did not appear after being properly served. The subcommittee moved to decertify by default; the motion carried.

- Brian Hancock (Rutherford County): Sergeant Sean Benson presented multiple documented performance and policy concerns for Hancock, including an alleged leg sweep of a restrained juvenile and other disciplinary incidents. Hancock and counsel disputed the weight and interpretation of the evidence and provided dash- and body-camera footage for the subcommittee to review. After viewing footage and discussion, the subcommittee voted for no action by the informal subcommittee (the motion for no action carried), meaning Rutherford County’s termination request was not advanced by the subcommittee at this time.

- Brian Corey Melton (Tennessee Department of Safety): Department representatives said Melton failed to meet FTO (field training officer) safety and proficiency standards and was terminated during the FTO program. Melton’s counsel and the trainee described his prior professional history (nursing) and the learning/transition context. The subcommittee voted for no action.

Additional procedural notes and follow-up

- In cases where the subcommittee proposed or accepted probationary monitoring by another agency (Kelly Young), staff were directed to work with counsel to draft an agreed order and report back to the full commission or the informal subcommittee next month.

- Where subjects failed to appear after proper service (Brandon Grady), the subcommittee moved ahead with decertification by default.

- Several commissioners emphasized the difference between misconduct that was isolated and misconduct that showed a pattern or posed systemic risk (for example, database misuse affecting NCIC access for an entire agency). Commissioners repeatedly noted the reputational and operational risk to agencies when officers misuse confidential systems.

Votes at a glance

- Kelly Young (Johnson City): Motion to enter a one-year monitored probationary agreement and reset for next-month review — outcome: motion carried; vote recorded 2 yes, 1 no; action: probationary agreement to be drafted (formal terms not specified).

- Brian Gilley (Lebanon): Motion to decertify — outcome: motion carried (vote count not specified in transcript); action: decertification recommended.

- Brandon Keith Grady (Lewis County): Motion to decertify by default (no appearance after service) — outcome: motion carried (vote count not specified).

- Brian Hancock (Rutherford County): Motion for no action by the informal subcommittee after evidence review — outcome: motion carried (unanimous according to roll call phrasing).

- Brian Corey Melton (Tennessee Department of Safety): Motion for no action — outcome: motion carried (unanimous according to roll call phrasing).

What the subcommittee cited as key evidence or inputs

- Audit logs and CJIS/NCIC lookup records and FBI/CJIS notifications in the Kelly Young matter; department investigative reports and interviews.

- Internal affairs reports, body-worn camera and dash-cam footage, and text-message threads in the Gilley and Hancock matters.

- FTO documentation and phase evaluations for the Department of Safety trainee.

Sources and next steps

- Staff were ordered to coordinate with agency representatives and counsel to draft agreed orders where the subcommittee indicated monitored probation; formal actions or decertifications will proceed to the full commission as required by POST procedures.

- The subcommittee repeatedly noted that criminal referrals and DA decisions (where they exist) remain distinct from POST’s administrative actions: criminal investigations or charges may proceed separately and were referenced where applicable.

Ending note: The subcommittee made decisions case-by-case, weighing evidence, disciplinary histories, agency risk, and offers of supervision or remediation from hiring agencies. Several cases were reset or left to further documentation and formal orders before final action by the full commission.