Smyrna Airport Officer Accused Of Misusing State's Criminal Justice Portal

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SMYRNA, Tenn. - A Smyrna Airport police officer recently misused the state's Criminal Justice Portal, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Chris Sorey said he regrets misusing the system.

"I am very sorry that it's caused any embarrassment or anything for anybody," Sorey told NewsChannel 5.

Chris Sorey regrets misusing the state's criminal search engine.

A TBI investigation found that Sorey used the Web site to run unauthorized background checks on citizens.

When asked if he regretted his actions, he said, "Oh sure. Look at the pain and embarrassment it's caused my family and friends."

He was caught doing the same thing that cost Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Ronnie Shirley his job earlier this year.

Both men violated policy by accessing driver's license records and photographs.

Shirley was fired. Sorey resigned.

"With the THP they drug that out and they eventually fired Ronnie Shirley," Sorey said. "It was two different, completely different scenarios. I didn't want to cause that grief and heartache for my employer. I went ahead and resigned my position and that was a job I loved."

The TBI investigation found no criminal wrongdoing and the district attorney is not seeking charges.

But the policy violation cost Sorey his job.

When asked why he did it, he said, "Photos; I wanted to know who these clowns were driving past my house while my wife was loading baby into the back of the car."

Earlier this year, he helped make public concerns about fire codes problems in several Mount Juliet homes.

He believes that controversy upset some at City Hall. He said he and his family noticed city vehicles cruising past his home. He took down tag numbers and ran them through the Criminal Justice Portal.

"Let's face it, I probably shouldn't have done it," Sorey said. "But, when it comes to safety of my family I make no bones about that."

Sorey remains a Wilson County Commissioner and now works a new job outside of law enforcement.

Mount Juliet City Manager Randy Robertson doesn't agree with Sorey's justification.

In an interview Tuesday, he said many city employees and Mount Juliet citizens have contacted him wondering if Sorey accessed their private information.

"Concerns they have are were their names run, were their Social Security numbers compromised, is their driving history been let out there for no apparent reason?" he said.

The TBI did not say how many people Sorey targeted.

Sorey said city trucks constantly cruised past his home as a form of possible intimidation.

Robertson said no way and that Sorey never filed any complaints with the city police department.

Sorey is not facing any criminal charges, but the city manager said it's possible the city will file a civil lawsuit against him for the security breach.