Tennessee POST approves military-discharge waiver for Columbia police applicant

The Tennessee POST Commission on April 17 approved a military-discharge waiver that allows Columbia Police Department applicant Corey Fields to remain eligible for certification.

The vote followed a presentation by Columbia Police Department Captain Josh Davis and testimony from Fields, who described family and childcare hardships that led to his military discharge in 2013. Fields said he has since worked in security, secured stable family support and is seeking a second chance in law enforcement.

The waiver matters because it permits Columbia to hire Fields notwithstanding a 2013 general discharge from the U.S. Army for a pattern of misconduct linked in the record to missed duty while he was sole caregiver for an infant. Fields told the commission he accepted the discharge at the time because he could not meet both military obligations and sole custody responsibilities. "I ask that the commission give me the chance to prove that I'm worthy of the second chance," Fields said.

Captain Josh Davis told commissioners his agency had conducted a thorough background investigation and concluded Fields is a suitable hire. "We've looked at his work history since he left the military ... he's definitely proven to us that he was just in a horrible situation back in 2012," Davis said. The Columbia presentation included the applicant and the department's references and work history in the years since his discharge.

Commission discussion emphasized the department's background documentation and the candidate's subsequent employment history in security and related roles. After a motion to approve the waiver, commissioners voted in favor; no roll-call breakdown was recorded on the transcript.

The approval allows Columbia Police Department to continue the hiring process for Fields under POST rules; the commission did not place additional conditions on the waiver in its public action. The transcript indicates the department prepared an extensive background report for commissioners to review.

Speakers

- Josh Davis, Captain, Columbia Police Department (agency representative) - Corey Fields, Applicant (job candidate)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[{"kind":"motion","identifiers":{},"motion":"Approve military discharge waiver for Corey Fields (Columbia Police Department)","mover":null,"second":null,"vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"No roll-call tally recorded in transcript; action approved by voice vote."}]

Clarifying details

[{"category":"hire_date","detail":"hired/processing date listed by agency","value":"04/07/2025","units":"date","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Josh Davis"},{"category":"military_discharge_date","detail":"date of discharge referenced in records","value":"06/21/2013","source_speaker":"Corey Fields"},{"category":"child_custody","detail":"court granted sole custody leading to duty conflicts","value":"06/2013","source_speaker":"Corey Fields"}]

Proper_names

[{"name":"Columbia Police Department","type":"agency"}]

Provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"654.915","local_start":0,"local_end":85,"evidence_excerpt":"My name is Josh Davis. I serve as captain with Columbia Police Department. This is Corey Field with us.","tc_start":"00:10:54","tc_end":"00:11:04","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"1040.01","local_start":0,"local_end":45,"evidence_excerpt":"I have a motion to approve waiver and second. All in favor with motion, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Alright.","tc_start":"00:17:20","tc_end":"00:17:28","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

salience":{"overall":0.42,"overall_justification":"Local hiring decision with moderate public-safety relevance and human-interest element; not a change in statewide policy.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Decision affects Columbia Police Department hiring only.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Commission action on certification waivers is recurrent but matters to local community and prospective employee.","novelty":0.20,"novelty_justification":"Standard personnel waiver; individual circumstances notable but not novel.","timeliness_urgency":0.30,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Immediate for the candidate and department hiring timeline.","legal_significance":0.20,"legal_significance_justification":"Waiver invokes POST authority but does not change statute.","budgetary_significance":0.00,"budgetary_significance_justification":"No budgetary action reported.","public_safety_risk":0.22,"public_safety_risk_justification":"Subject relates to hiring of sworn personnel; commission reviewed past discharge reasons.","environmental_impact":0.00}}