Millersville Police Chief Terminated By City Manager

 

Millersville Police Chief Terminated By City Manager

MILLERSVILLE TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Millersville Police Chief David Hindman was fired Monday, and Lt. John Brown (who was second in command) has resigned.

Hindman told Smokey Barn News that his termination came as a complete shock. Hindman arrived at work Monday morning and was told he was out of a job, and by noon his office was cleared out..

Smokey Barn News met with Hindman at his home Monday afternoon.  “I was fired without cause and due process,” Hindman said during the interview.

Hindman said the city manager Caryn Miller told him; “You no longer have control of your police department, you no longer have control over your officers.” Hindman disagrees.

According to Hindman, Brown publicly said inappropriate things about the city manager on Friday. Hindman said he was not given the chance to deal with Brown himself.

Hindman said he was given the option to resign but declined. “I have nothing to resign or be terminated for,” Hindman said.

Smokey Barn News did reach out to the Millersville city manager Caryn Miller for comment but it was late in the day. Miller did however speak to our news partner WKRN News 2. Miller told News 2 that it was more than just the one incident with Brown, and the chief was not the right person for the job.

“It’s unfortunate I had to take the action I took with David. It’s been coming for quite a while. It is not just because of one incident. There are several incidents behind this, and I had to make a decision,” Miller told News 2.

She added, “He is not the right person for this department and I had to let him go.”

“At this point, we are looking for another chief, and we will move on,” Miller said.

To the citizens, Miller says, “I say to my citizens, ‘Don’t worry. You are in good hands still. We will move on and the department will provide the services you deserve.”

Miller also told News 2 the Millersville sergeants will supervise the officers and report to her as administrator.

Miller reached out to Smokey Barn News Tuesday,  “David brought a lot of good things and implemented a lot of good things in the city. I am not gonna say he did not. Those that were implemented that have worked out well will continue to work that way.

“But along with the good, there is also the bad and this time the bad outweighed the good and it’s unfortunate. I wish him the best of luck where ever he goes. He may find a better fit somewhere else. I give kudos to our officers because they know what they are doing and those drug bust and the things that have been accomplished in the field have been accomplished by (our) officers, who are very dedicated and that has not changed.

“Moral did improve quiet a bit but it’s a culmination of things that have been happening over the past year and a half that escalated to the point where (at this point) I had to make a choice.

“My relationship with David was always been friendly and professional. The guy is a likable guy- but there are certain expectations that are necessary in order to run a department efficiently and those expectations were not met.

“It comes to a point when all the counseling in the world and all the hand holding in the world has to stop.”

Hindman said he is proud of the work he did in Millersville, bringing a sense of professionalism to the department and opening up honest lines of communication with the community.

Hindman has 32 years of experience in law enforcement and said he will be seeking another opportunity as a police chief.

UPDATE: Millersville X-Police Chief Responds To City Manager’s Accusations

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One Response

  1. sonny freeman August 9, 2016
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