POST investigators flag possible unauthorized solo SRO in Bledsoe, clear Decatur sheriff training allegation and correct Alexandria ACADIS records
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Summary
Post staff reported three investigations: an apparent non-certified stand-in SRO at a Pikeville elementary in Bledsoe County; a Decatur County allegation that the sheriff missed range qualification was found unfounded; and Alexandria Police Department's personnel records in ACADIS were corrected.
Post investigators presented three separate findings on July 18.
Bledsoe County: an investigator's unannounced visit to Pikeville Elementary found a young man assigned as a stand-in school resource officer who had not yet completed academy training. The investigator said he showed school staff his credentials and that the subject "said he had not been to the academy yet, but he was due to class up soon." Staff were unable to fully substantiate whether two other individuals named in the complaint had worked solo; the investigator told the commission that human-resources records provided only timesheets and limited context. The commission asked staff for a follow-up report at the next meeting to verify staffing classifications and training schedules.
Decatur County: Investigator Kevin Green reported an unannounced visit and interviews with training staff and range instructors. Green said all parties consistently reported the sheriff attends and qualifies, and he concluded the allegation that the sheriff failed to qualify with his firearm was unfounded: "I could not prove that he was not at the training and I actually can say that he was at the training and qualified with his firearm." The commission voted to take no further action on that allegation.
Alexandria Police Department: staff discovered two officers were not entered into ACADIS as current employees even though they were on-duty; preemployment medical and psychological steps had not been completed before the officers started work. Investigators worked with the department to enter proper hire dates and documentation; staff reported ACADIS now reflects the two officers correctly. Commissioners noted the risk when smaller agencies hire quickly without completing post preemployment paperwork and instructed staff to continue outreach and training for small departments on ACADIS and GDI responsibilities.
Actions taken included a commission request for an update on the Bledsoe investigation at next month's meeting and a vote to take no action on the Decatur allegation after the investigator's finding.
