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Millersville commissioners stand with assistant police chief - and his Covenant School conspiracies

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Phil Williams and Bryan Morris.jpeg

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Millersville officials are standing with their assistant police chief and his bizarre conspiracy theories regarding Nashville's Covenant School shooting.

Monday night, City Commissioner David Gregory urged his fellow commissioners to demand that Shawn Taylor apologize for a 2023 podcast in which he had questioned the official story. Taylor falsely claimed that video released by police was actually staged.

But the three-member majority ignored Gregory's plea, just as they have refused a recent request by Gregory and Commissioner Cristina Templet for a special meeting of the city commission to discuss Taylor's hiring.

"I think Shawn Taylor needs to apologize to the Covenant victims," Gregory said as the commission met for its monthly work session. "He needs to apologize to the victims' family at the Covenant shooting and also Metro Police for what he said about them."

Millersville is community of about 6,000 located just north of Nashville. Its commission is controlled by a three-member majority backed by the far-right group Sumner County Constitutional Republicans, who believe the Republican Party is too liberal.

They are the ones standing behind Shawn Taylor.

Gregory's concern followed a NewsChannel 5 investigation that uncovered a podcast in which Taylor spread bogus conspiracy theories about the Covenant School shooting in which three children were gunned down in cold blood, along with three staff members.

"The people know and the three of us know something's not right, it doesn't pass the smell test," Taylor told two other conspiracy theorists during the podcast.

He said bodycam video released by Metro police "looks more like a training op."

When the commission ignored Gregory's demand for Taylor to apologize, NewsChannel 5 Investigates had questions — first, for the mayor.

Tommy Long and Phil Williamis.jpeg
Phil Williams interviews Millersville Mayor Tommy Long.

"Do you think that Shawn Taylor owes the Covenant families an apology?" we asked Tommy Long.

"Uh, you know, I haven't seen, I haven't seen that," the mayor answered.

Long claimed he had not seen our investigation — which showed Taylor falsely claiming that the brave staff members who helped guide police to the shooter were "role playing."

"I've heard talk about what was said. But as far as me listening to it, I haven't seen it," Long said.

We followed up, "Is it not important for you to listen to?"

"I haven't had a chance."

Next, we headed to Taylor's boss, Police Chief Bryan Morris, who's now serving as city manager.

"Chief, does Shawn Taylor owe the Covenant families an apology?" we asked.

Morris responded, "I don't have anything to say to you."

"He is your employee. Does he owe the Covenant families an apology?"

The chief shot back, "The reason why I'm not going to say anything to you is I don't like you."

Phil Williams and Bryan Morris.jpeg
Phil Williams tries to get answers from Police Chief Bryan Morris as Commissioner David Gregory listens.

Still, NewsChannel 5 Investigates wanted to know what Morris would say to the family of Covenant headmaster Katherine Koonce, who was killed while trying to stop the shooter.

Taylor had falsely accused the beloved hero of being involved in child sex trafficking.

We continued to pepper Chief Morris with questions.

"Here's the question, though. What about the Covenant families?"

Morris' response?

"If you can't do your research to at least spell my name right, I"m not going to talk to you."

"So this is personal? You don't care about the Covenant families, Chief?"

"I didn't say that."

"You said you were more concern about the spelling of your name."

"That's not what I said, but that's your twist."

If fact, we checked NewsChannel 5's website and could find no example of when the chief's name had been misspelled.

There was also Commissioner Alisa Huling, who had appeared to scoff out loud when Gregory brought up Covenant.

Phil Williams and Alisa Huling.jpeg
Phil Williams interviews Millersville Commissioner Alisa Huling.

It was something she denied as she left the meeting.

"Do you think Mr. Taylor owes the Covenant families an apology?" we asked.

Another woman tried to get Huling to walk away. "Are you ready to go to your car?"

Fire Chief Matt Stewart coaxed the commissioner, "Didn't you say you were running late for that meeting?"

Still, we pressed.

"It's a really simple question."

Huling eventually answered, "I haven't looked at all the documentation of what's been coming at us."

David Gregory was dismayed by the lack of a response from his fellow commissioners.

"I couldn't believe what I was not hearing," Gregory said. "It takes a man to apologize. So what are we dealing with here?"

Cristina Templet agreed.

"They don't care enough to care about the people that lost lives, their families, that has been re-opened. That shocked me. I was pretty shocked about that."

Phil Williams with Millersville Commissioners.jpeg
Phil Williams with Millersville Commissioners David Gregory and Cristina Templet.

As for the man who really controls Shawn Taylor's fate, we tried one more time with Police Chief Morris.

"Should he apologize to the Covenant families, Chief?"

His answer: "I think you should do better research."

"Should he apologize, Chief?"

At that point, Morris walked out of the meeting room and slammed the door.

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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:

When Qanon comes to Main Street

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.

Anna Caudill and Phil Williams.jpeg
"So we'll start this and then, when you've had enough you just stop it"

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.

Team Mongoose Group Pic.jpg
Team pic shared by Shawn Taylor

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.

Craig Sawyer on InfoWars.jpeg
Craig Sawyer announces the formation of Veterans for Child Rescue on Alex Jones' show on InfoWars.

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.

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Hate Comes to Main Street