The Tennessee police chief whose department was roiled by revelations that at least five male officers had sex with a female officer — both on and off the job — has been fired.
La Vergne Police Chief Burrel “Chip” Davis was let go Monday after a “third-party investigator” concluded that he had been aware of what was going on but failed to discipline any of the officers, the city said in a statement.
“The conclusion also states that Davis impeded the initial investigation into sexual misconduct, ‘contrary to City policy and permitted — if not encouraged — conduct potentially contrary to state and federal law,'” the statement said.
Deputy Chief Brent Hatcher has been named interim chief of the 60-person department in the Nashville suburbs while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
“There aren’t words to describe the disappointment and frustration felt by myself and other city leaders,” La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole said. “Officers are held to a higher standard, even more so is their chief.”
Davis’ departure came after the former officer at the center of the sex scandal, Maegan Hall, filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint with the state alleging that Davis fostered an environment that encouraged this kind of illicit behavior, the NBC affiliate WSMV of Nashville reported.
The ex-chief, who is not accused of sexual misconduct, was put on paid administrative leave after the city was notified that Hall had filed an EEOC complaint, according to the affiliate.
“The actions of a few do not represent the department as a whole,” Davis declared last month when the story broke. The officers involved were accused of taking part in “Girls Gone Wild”-type parties, having sex in the police station, and sharing cellphone photos of their genitals.
Hall was fired last month along with four male officers: Sgt. Lewis Powell, Sgt. Henry Ty McGowan, Detective Seneca Shields and Officer Juan Lugo-Perez.
Officers Larry Holladay, Patrick Magliocco…
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