POST panel orders informal hearing into officer Christopher Trevon Curry after multiple arrests and terminations

The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted Jan. 17 to set an informal hearing to review allegations against Christopher Trevon Curry after investigators reported multiple domestic-related arrests and repeated employment separations across agencies.

Investigators say the record shows domestic-related arrests after Curry became certified in 2022 and a pattern of short tenures and terminations at multiple agencies, prompting the commission to act. The commission’s informal process can lead to formal action, including possible decertification.

Investigator Cantrell told the commission that an audit beginning in April 2024 uncovered multiple arrests, including two domestic-related incidents that occurred after Curry’s certification. Cantrell said one incident involved an arrest for aggravated domestic assault in late 2023 and another alleged assault in January 2024. "We found that Mr. Curry had multiple arrests on his record since he had started working there," Cantrell said, and noted that some agencies had terminated him and others had considered decertification but had not filed requests with POST.

The commission heard that one of the district attorney’s offices dismissed a charge under a memorandum of understanding; that dismissal preserved the state’s right to refile if the facts were disputed at POST. Cantrell said the dismissal included facts the DA expected Curry would effectively concede if POST took jurisdiction.

Commissioners voiced concern about the pattern of short employments and alleged policy violations. Commissioner Beverly said she believed the commission should "take jurisdiction to take a look at that." A motion to schedule an informal hearing "as early as possible" was made and carried.

Commission staff and several commissioners also discussed a broader enforcement issue: the commission does not automatically receive arrest notifications from federal databases, and agencies and officers do not always report arrests to POST as statutorily required. A staff member reminded the commission that "the statute says that the officer by law must notify his agency and the POST commission" when arrested; commissioners discussed options for improving compliance and enforcement.

The informal hearing will be scheduled by POST staff; the commission instructed staff to proceed quickly while preserving due process. No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

The commission’s decision starts the informal review process; any subsequent formal charges, hearings or decisions will be announced by the commission.