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Internal Review Of Fairview Police Raises Questions

Posted at 5:57 PM, Jul 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-20 19:46:17-04
A scathing review of the Fairview Police Department was released by the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, but the months-long investigation uncovered no evidence serious enough to warrant criminal charges, according to the district attorney.
 
Some Fairview police officers have come under scrutiny in recent months following the arrest of one officer and the temporary suspension of three others.
 
The report released Wednesday began with a disturbing account about Lieutenant Pat Stockdale. Another officer said back in 2006, Stockdale arrested someone on an outstanding warrant and then "ran him into every door jam in the residence... pushed the arrestee off of the deck while handcuffed."
 
That officer said Lieutenant Stockdale then lied about what happened.
 
There were accounts of officers intimidating and threatening confidential informants and accounts of an officer using cell phones seized from arrests to make drug arrangements for other cases.
 
Then there was Ronnie Williams. The former Millersville Police Chief was hired by Fairview police in February,
but one day later, he was arrested by Metro Police in a prostitution sting.
 
The reports raised questions about the background check done on Ronnie Williams. Several employees made mention of "a situation that blew up" after Williams was arrested. Lieutenant Pat Stockdale told Assistant Chief Mark Sutton he was going to speak with the city manager and was told if he did "he would never draw another paycheck from the city of Fairview."
 
The report concluded that "All facts of this investigation have been shared with District Attorney Kim Helper. She has determined that there is no evidence to support the prosecution of any party. This case is closed."

Three officers remained on leave: Mark Sutton, Shane Dunning, and Pat Stockdale.

To read the full report, click here.