Tennessee POST Commission declines most decertification requests, temporarily suspends one officer

The Tennessee POST Commission on June held an informal hearing on multiple officer certification matters, voting to take no action in several cases, to temporarily suspend Officer Andrew Clawson's POST certification for one month, to continue a contested dishonesty finding pending litigation, and to approve a default decertification for an absent officer.

The commission heard agency presentations and respondent statements in turn, as the body's rules require. Commissioner Green, Commissioner Leens and Commissioner Wilbur served as the primary voting members for the session. Commissioners noted that informal hearings do not typically include evidence admission or cross-examination and that commission members will recuse themselves from votes that present a conflict of interest.

In the first contested matter, agency representatives described multiple no-shows and a resignation submitted by the employing agency. Lieutenant Cheryl Ramsey, representing the agency, said the officer failed to report for multiple days after an initial denied leave request. The respondent, John Adams, said he had called out March 30 because "My grandmother died from the cancer. I won't be able to make it in," and said he tried to provide a doctor's note. After questions from commissioners about the timeline and probation status, Commissioner Green moved for no action; the motion carried.

In the case of Officer Andrew Clawson, the agency alleged he resigned under investigation after an internal review found an altered medical document. The agency summarized an email they received from a medical provider and a human-resources contact indicating an edited note. Sergeant Sagas Rios said the documentation included an original and an altered note. Clawson told the commission, "I did change the doctor's note. That was my fault," and said he had added symptoms to a note at the direction of a military supervisor for a Tennessee Army National Guard drill. Commissioners discussed whether the commission had jurisdiction absent a completed internal affairs investigation. The commission voted to temporarily suspend Clawson's POST certification for one month; the suspension requires a sponsoring agency to petition the commission to reinstate his certification after that period.

The commission then considered William Stevens, who resigned while a domestic-assault allegation was noted as the subject of an internal notification. Sergeant Nago summarized the agency's notice that an investigation had been initiated; Stevens denied pending criminal charges and described the incident as a disputed physical confrontation he says he tried to record. Commissioners voted for no action on decertification in Stevens's case.

Lieutenant Eve Paris of the Knox County Sheriff's Office was placed on the agenda for failing to complete the 40-hour mandatory in-service training requirement. Chief Chris Bryant said Paris had partial hours in 2024 and 2025 and that the agency had delivered decertification paperwork; Paris said she was injured in the line of duty on Feb. 2, 2024, has undergone surgery and rehabilitation, and asked the commission for time to complete training (she said she expected to be able to finish by Dec. 31). Commissioners noted that medical waivers and administrative process factored into jurisdiction; the commission moved to take no action.

The Office of Professional Accountability presented findings against Nicholas Tiliger (Metro Nashville Police Department) for dishonesty and mischaracterizing body-worn camera entries related to an out-of-policy pursuit. Tiliger said he has appealed and requested a continuance pending an administrative hearing set in October. The commission offered a pending-litigation suspension form or continuation; it voted to continue the matter to the next month pending agreed paperwork.

Sullivan County presented documentation that Samuel Matney had been terminated after an internal review. Lieutenant Chris Farmer summarized body-worn footage and agency findings. Matney was not present; the commission voted for default decertification in his absence.

The commission also voted to continue the Clayton Fox matter to the next meeting. No public comment was offered before the meeting adjourned.

Votes at a glance: the commission carried motions for no action in the Adams, Stevens and Paris matters; it approved a temporary one-month suspension for Andrew Clawson; it continued Nicholas Tiliger's matter pending litigation; it approved a default decertification for Samuel Matney; and it continued Clayton Fox to the next meeting. Specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript; commissioners used voice assent."