MONTEREY, Tenn. (WTVF) — A police chief in Putnam County is now indicted after an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller's Office for using a trip to Gatlinburg more as a vacation than training.
The state announced Wednesday that Monterey Police Bill Randolph allegedly misappropriated around $2,300 for a law enforcement training conference in Gatlinburg in 2022. Investigators said that he didn't attend the conference, and he instead went shopping with wife and to restaurants.
Investigators from the comptroller's office said he submitted documentation for attending via another officer who gave him the QR codes to log his time, totaling 36 hours of time he was supposed to have trained.
“This investigation raises several ethical concerns,” said Comptroller Mumpower. “By engaging his subordinates in his actions, the chief abused his position, and he has potentially damaged the public trust in the management of the department.”
The Putnam County Grand Jury indicted Bill Randolph on one count of theft of property over $1,000, three counts of official misconduct, one count of forgery over $1,000, one count of false entries in governmental records and one count of violation of the Tennessee Personal and Commercial Computer Act of 2003.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email newsroom@newschannel5.com.
Recently while home sick, I got to watch the news just like you — a viewer! And I have to brag on my co-workers. Not only are they great people and journalists, but they are also tremendous advocates. Look no further than the recent reporting by Amanda Roberts and Jennifer Kraus. This kind of reporting takes dogged commitment. To us, it's always more than a story; this is our home too.
- Carrie Sharp
