Tennessee POST Commission approves decertifications, continues several cases and records no-action determinations

The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission took a series of personnel actions at its August informal hearing, approving decertifications in some cases, continuing others while outside investigations proceed, and voting to take no action on a pair of matters.

Commissioners voted to decertify Martin Andrew Jordan after Dyer County told the body Jordan is in federal custody following convictions for aggravated child-exploitation charges and a federal sentence. The motion passed on a voice vote after the county representative described the federal conviction and custody status.

The commission also approved a decertification motion for Erica Hutchinson after agency counsel reported a federal conviction for conspiracy to commit felony theft and a federal sentence. That motion passed on a voice vote.

In a high-profile Tennessee Highway Patrol matter, commissioners approved decertification of Trooper Milkovich after the Office of Professional Accountability outlined a cumulative disciplinary history that the agency said included sustained violations, progressive discipline and a recent determination that he disobeyed a direct order. Milkovich and his counsel disputed aspects of the agency record and noted pending appeal steps; commissioners nonetheless voted to decertify.

The body continued several matters to allow investigations to finish. The commission agreed to push the Jerry Mifflin (Ventress County) matter to October so the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation can complete planned interviews. The commission also continued the Drake Ofili (Memphis) matter to Sept. 3 while related dispositions in another jurisdiction are finalized.

Two contested matters resulted in no-action votes. In Rutherford County’s case concerning Tyler Cravens (also referred to as Graves in agency filings), the county told commissioners the district attorney declined to file charges; Cravens and his counsel disputed the agency’s suggestion of dishonesty and asked that his certification be restored. After discussion, the commission voted no action.

Trooper Taylor James (Tennessee Highway Patrol) faced allegations that she shared confidential information with a private citizen and was untruthful to deputies during a traffic stop; the department also reported video and field-sobriety evidence it said contradicted James’s statements. Counsel for James described a timeline in which she reported possible drugging and pursued medical exams, noted a missing blood draw and an expungement outcome in related criminal proceedings, and said a step-3 appeal of her termination is under judicial review. The commission debated a motion to move the matter to a formal hearing (the motion did not advance) and ultimately voted no action, with one recorded dissenting “no.”

Separately, the commission accepted an offer from a respondent who indicated he would enter a voluntary surrender of certification; the parties said they would prepare agreed surrender paperwork for signature and place it on the agenda if not executed immediately. The commission also moved forward on a default action for several absent respondents (William McNally, Jonathan Bailey and Jason Bowles); a motion regarding those absences passed on a voice vote.

Most votes at the informal hearing were disposed by voice vote; where the transcript records the result it is noted above. Several matters were continued to allow outside agencies (TBI, district attorneys) to finish investigative steps or for respondents to pursue administrative appeals.