Tennessee POST panel suspends one certificate, decertifies several officers and closes two files

The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) at an informal hearing on March 20 voted to suspend one peace officer's certificate while criminal charges are pending, decertified multiple officers for misconduct or untruthfulness, moved another case to a full hearing and administratively closed two files.

The commission voted to suspend the POST certificate of Officer Anthony Musto while his criminal case is pending after the agency disclosed a pending domestic-assault charge. Captain Josh Blair of the Blount County Sheriff's Office told the commission the agency did not seek decertification but brought the matter as a post-rule follow-up. The officer agreed to the suspension, and commissioners approved an agreed order of suspension while the criminal proceeding remains pending.

Why this matters: POST certification determines whether someone can carry a law-enforcement commission in Tennessee; suspension or decertification removes or restricts that ability pending legal or administrative review.

Among other formal outcomes, the commission:

Votes at a glance: - Deputy Michael Lee (Bradley County): Decertified. The agency reported body- and dash-camera footage contradicted Lee's statements that he had been dragged by a vehicle; investigators found falsification and a violation of the truthfulness policy. The district attorney wrote that Lee 'cannot be called as a witness' for prosecutions because of lack of credibility. The subcommittee made a default motion recommending decertification; the commission approved that motion.

- Lowell Boyd (Henry County): Formal hearing scheduled. Sheriff Jeff Frey described an incident in which Boyd left his shift early, parked his patrol car, and attended a party in uniform; three witnesses, including the sheriff said, reported Boyd drank in uniform and two witnesses described a scissors threat (those witnesses declined charges). Boyd's attorney disputed aspects of the report and asked the commission to decline decertification and treat it as a departmental disciplinary matter; the subcommittee voted to move the matter to a full hearing before the full commission.

- Trooper Reuben Basadula (Tennessee Highway Patrol): Decertified. Sergeant Justin Rolfe and other agency witnesses said Basadula was arrested and indicted on a domestic-assault charge arising from an incident captured on video; Basadula later pled to simple assault and received supervised probation. The commission voted to decertify; Basadula's probation was recorded in the hearing material as ending Dec. 11, 2025.

- Cody Buck (Tennessee Highway Patrol): No action. The department reported Trooper Buck failed to meet minimum standards required to perform commercial motor vehicle inspections after three course attempts. Commissioners noted other law-enforcement employment options and moved to disapprove decertification; the motion carried and no decertification was ordered.

- Marvell (Marvel) Boyce: No action. The agency said Boyce failed the commercial motor-vehicle certification; the subcommittee recommended no action and the commission voted to take no action on decertification.

- Raheem (Rahim) Mohammed (Highway Patrol): Decertified. The agency said Mohammed was untruthful about calling in sick and later working secondary employment; investigators also cited unreported patrol-vehicle damage and an instance in which Mohammed released an arrested person outside a jail instead of ensuring custody. Mohammed acknowledged mistakes during his appearance. The commission approved decertification.

- Christopher Curry: Decertified. Investigators reported multiple terminations and arrests across agencies and a signed memorandum of understanding tied to past incidents; investigator reports included allegations of impersonating others on phone calls. Curry told the commission he signed a memorandum on counsel's advice; commissioners moved to decertify and the motion carried.

- Default orders for absent officers: The subcommittee moved and the commission approved default actions for officers not present at the hearing, listing Jacob Hensley (Blount County), Jonathan Allen (Hamilton County), Diedrich Collier (Memphis PD), Michael Payne (Memphis PD) and Anthony Rizzo (University of Tennessee, Knoxville). The commission's action was recorded as a default order for those listed names.

- Cedric Miles: Administrative closure. Legal counsel said Miles had never completed the academy and was never issued POST certification; the commission approved closing the file administratively.

- Harvey Briggs: Administrative closure. Briggs had been the subject of a default decertification appeal after an alleged mask-related assault; staff and counsel told commissioners Briggs has been missing for years and is listed as a missing person. Commissioners voted to administratively close the file.

Several commissioners and agency representatives emphasized honesty and credibility as central to POST decisions. Commissioner Green told several subjects that untruthfulness 'erodes public trust and that small lies can undermine an officer's ability to testify in criminal cases.

The commission also discussed procedural matters: moving select cases to full hearings when evidence or contested facts remained, and the limits of administrative actions when a subject cannot be located for service. Investigators were directed to explain next steps to officers subject to decertification motions.

The commission adjourned after approving the administrative closures and the remaining actions on the agenda.

Ending note: The actions taken at this informal hearing are administrative; officers decertified by POST lose their commission in Tennessee and may pursue any administrative or judicial appeals available under POST rules.