NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The controversy over Millersville's conspiracy cop, first uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates, has now become the latest scandal rocking the tiny town just north of Nashville.
Now, two city commissioners want a special meeting to figure out how Shawn Taylor landed his job as the city's assistant police chief.
At the center of the controversy: Do Millersville residents want a high-ranking police official — with a gun, badge and the power to arrest people — who believes in bizarre conspiracy theories with no real evidence to back them up?
Related story: 'Al Gore, you’re a piece of sh*t!' Meet Millersville's conspiracy cop
"Specifically, we need to examine whether a thorough investigation into his moral character was conducted and whether he underwent and passed a psychological evaluation as mandated," said a letter written by commissioners David Gregory and Cristina Templet.
Taylor — a conspiracy theorist who's appeared on numerous podcasts — is a self-described "gypsy cop" who's had and lost police jobs across the state, sometimes keeping a job for just a few months at a time.
When Gregory and Templet presented their request at Tuesday night's commission meeting, new Police Chief Bryan Morris pushed back.
"I'm struggling with what the outcome of what this is going to be," Morris said.
Gregory replied, "That's what we are going to find out. That's why we are asking for this meeting about."
Morris brought Taylor with him to Millersville earlier this year after they were both fired from the nearby town of Ridgetop.
"We're going to discuss that in an open meeting — that's what I want to do," Gregory told Morris.
The chief shot back, "You want a circus."
"No, I don't want a circus. He started the circus."
Morris claimed that "those podcasts are years old."
"I don't care," Gregory answered. "It was said, and I heard it and the people of this city heard it — and they deserve answers."
The police chief wasn't finished.
"Well, I mean, the people of the city have heard some commissioners say some pretty crazy and outlandish things that weren't true. So should we investigate that too?"
In fact, the podcasts reviewed by NewsChannel 5 Investigates were all in the last 18 months, including one where he accuses the area's district attorney of being on the take.
"The point is, two commissioners asked for a special called meeting and by charter we are allowed to do that," Templet added.
"What is the meeting for?" Chief Morris interjected.
"We've got questions to ask the assistant chief Shawn Taylor, especially after what we saw on NewsChannel 5 last night, presented by Mr. Phil Williams."
Morris rolled his eyes.
"And that goes against what policy?"
Commissioner David Gregory argued that the city attorney's relationship with Taylor is a problem. Bryant Kroll sued Millersville when Taylor was previously fired from there, and he now represents Taylor and the chief in their lawsuit against the town of Ridgetop.
"That's a conflict of interest. I brought it out. Didn't go nowhere," Gregory told NewsChannel 5 Investigates.
But, just like Shawn Taylor, Chief Morris refused to answer NewsChannel 5's questions.
"Chief, can we talk to you?" we called out as he left the dais.
"Nope."
"So did you know about all these conspiracy theories? Why won't you talk to us about this, chief?"
"I don't have anything to say to you."
There were also questions from the public about what happened when we tracked down Taylor last week.
Taylor referred to this reporter by my late wife's last name.
Bryant Kroll, the attorney for Millersville and Shawn Taylor, replied to a citizen's question.
"Sir, I can go ahead and comment about the issue of whether there were city resources used to investigate a journalist. That's absolutely untrue."
As for the bizarre conspiracy theories that Taylor has espoused, Millersville Mayor Tommy Long said he's not concerned about Taylor's podcasts.
"He wasn't an employee at that time."
We followed up, "But is that the type of person who should have arrest power in Millersville?"
"I think Shawn Taylor is a very good police officer."
After the call for a special meeting, after conferring with the attorney, he said he would "get back" with the commission about scheduling that meeting.
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Do you have information that would help me with my investigation? Send me your tips: phil.williams@newschannel5.com
Here is how this investigation has unfolded:
May 20, 2024: Meet Millersville's conspiracy cop. He imagines sinister plots involving some of the country's most prominent political figures. Taylor recently landed in Millersville as assistant police chief, promising to root out the corruption he sees there. You can continue reading at this hyperlink.
May 22, 2024: The controversy over Millersville's conspiracy cop has now become the latest scandal rocking the tiny town just north of Nashville. Now, two city commissioners want a special meeting to figure out how Shawn Taylor landed his job. You can continue reading Part Two at this link.
May 24, 2024: An attorney for Millersville conspiracy cop Shawn Taylor has told Millersville's city commission, whom he also represents, that they should not question the assistant police chief's bizarre theories or psychological fitness. You can read more of this installment at this link.
May 28, 2024: New podcast video, uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates, reveals how Shawn Taylor spread false and dangerous conspiracy theories about last year's Covenant School shooting that left three students and three staff members dead. You can click here to review that story.
May 28, 2024: Anna Caudill agreed to watch the video of Shawn Taylor knowing there might be only so much she could handle. Among the three children and three adults killed that day was her friend, Katherine Koonce. You can read more of Anna's story by tapping on this link.
June 3, 2024: First, he went after Millersville’s former mayor. Now, the town’s assistant police chief says his two critics on the city commission could be next. Shawn Taylor made those comments as he turned to a group of far-right podcasters to defend himself. Tap this link to read from those Taylor's accused.
June 4, 2024: Millersville officials are standing with their assistant police chief and his bizarre conspiracy theories regarding Nashville's Covenant School shooting. Read how this meeting played out at this link.
June 5, 2024: Bryant Kroll wears a lot of hats. He's the attorney representing the embattled City of Millersville. He also represents Mayor Tommy Long, who faces accusations of misconduct in an ouster suit. Plus, he's the attorney for Bryan Morris and Shawn Taylor. To understand the role he plays, you can read that here.
June 6, 2024: In Shawn Taylor's world — in the immortal words of Taylor Swift — "I'm the problem, it's me." I explain how we got here in this piece, which you can click on here.
June 18, 2024: Millersville's conspiracy cop now has his very own conspiracy-minded attorney. Now, our NewsChannel 5 investigation has discovered that Todd Callender's own theories are sometimes even more far-fetched than Taylor’s twisted view of the world. Click here to read more about Shawn Taylor’s attorney.
July 15, 2024: What happens when you give people with bizarre conspiracy theories a gun and a badge? Secret recordings from inside the troubled Millersville Police Department provide a sobering answer to that question. Read more on this investigation by tapping here.
July 22, 2024: In an explosive new development that could bring new trouble for the already-troubled Millersville Police Department, a key player in a child-predator sting says the lead detective on that operation lied under oath. You can read more about that by clicking here.
July 23, 2024: District Attorney General Robert Nash has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into the Millersville Police Department's handling of a child predator sting, including possible perjury by the lead detective. You can read more about that by tapping here.
July 29, 2024: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has expanded its probe of the embattled Millersville Police Department, now looking into allegations that officials may have used sensitive law enforcement data to investigate their political enemies. Read more about that by clicking here.
August 5, 2024: With the Millersville Police Department now the focus of a TBI investigation, NewsChannel 5 Investigates has uncovered new questions about the stories that conspiracy cop Shawn Taylor tells about himself. You can catch up on the investigation by tapping here.
August 12, 2024: In a perplexing pair of podcast interviews, the Millersville chief of police says the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has begun limiting his department's access to certain sensitive law enforcement data. Read more about this latest development here.
August 26, 2024: He has helped to fuel some of the wild conspiracy theories inside the troubled Millersville Police Department. He is a self-proclaimed pedophile hunter who believes America is controlled by what he calls "a satanic cult masquerading as Jews." Read more about Craig Sawyer by clicking here.
August 27, 2024: Craig Sawyer’s response to my investigation illustrates how conspiracy theorists frequently use wild accusations and blustery language to avoid giving real answers about their bizarre beliefs. Tap here to watch as we dissect his 90-minute diatribe.
September 4, 2024: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents raided the Millersville Police Department and Shawn Taylor’s home, executing a pair of search warrants as the criminal investigation into the troubled agency enters a dramatic new phase. Read more about this new twist in the Millersville investigation.
September 10, 2024: “No, a TBI agent didn't pee in Shawn Taylor's tub, agency says in response to Taylor's latest claim.” The headline says it all. Click here.
September 19, 2024: QAnon-aligned voices of the far right are threatening retaliation against a judge, a district attorney and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents for their roles in the recent Millersville raids. Details posted here.
October 7, 2024: A well-known Arizona election denier says his group — working through Millersville's conspiracy-minded assistant police chief — gained access to a highly confidential federal database that tracks Americans’ banking transactions and other financial data. Read the exclusive story here.
October 22, 2024: Two key GOP lawmakers – the chairman and a member of the state House committee that oversees the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – recently warned the agency that it could face “unnecessary political fallout” if it does not end its criminal probe into the troubled Millersville Police Department. You can read the letter here.
October 24, 2024: A letter from two GOP lawmakers, which appeared to threaten the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for its probe of the Millersville Police Department, was the "wrong way to go," House Speaker Cameron Sexton said. But there is more to the speaker's reaction.
December 9, 2024: Shawn Taylor, the conspiracy-minded cop now at the center of a criminal investigation, has resigned from his position as assistant chief for the Millersville Police Department after less than a year on the job. Read more here.
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