Sex Scandal Leads To Firing Of Nearly 10% Of LaVergne Police Department Staff
Image Credit: LaVergne Police Department / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A sex scandal in LaVergne has left the police department and the town in shock as five officers are fired and three more are suspended.
According to WZTV, documents detailing an internal investigation show that “allegations include un-reported sexual relationships, sexual acts performed while on-duty and inside city-owned property, nude and explicit photos sent among co-workers, sexual harassment and what is referred to as a ‘girls gone wild’ hot tub party at a sergeant’s house.”
Alderman Kara Hobbs described her emotions as shocked and disappointed when discussing the sexual misconduct scandal involving several LaVergne police officers.
Hobbs has been flooded with calls from constituents since the news surfaced on Friday.
Director of Human Resources Andrew Patton was contacted by Mayor Jason Cole in December saying he had received reports of Officer Maegan Hall being involved in intimate relationships with multiple department members.
The alleged relationships were with Sergeant Lewis Powell, Officer Patrick Magliocco and Officer Larry Holladay.
The fired officers were Hall, Patrol Officer Juan LugoPerez, Sergeant Henry Ty McGowan, Sergeant Lewis Powell and Detective Seneca Shields.
K-9 officer Larry Holladay, patrol officer Patrick Magliocco and patrol officer Gavin Schoeberl have all been suspended.
Hobbs said the publicly exposed details have rattled the town’s confidence in the police department.
Police Chief Chip Davis made a statement reassuring citizens that the actions of a few certainly do not represent the department as a whole. He noted that the situation is being addressed internally and that counselors are present to help officers.
He also added there is sufficient staff remaining to cover all patrol shifts.
According to Rutherford County’s district attorney Jennings Jones, there is no evidence of criminal activity, but Jones said he would continue to look into the case.
Mayor Joe Carr also issued a statement saying he has full confidence in the police department’s leadership team and that the current priority is to rebuild the trust of the public.
