Termination of Millersville fire chief tied to city investigation into police commission cards

MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - An ongoing City of Millersville investigation into how civilians ended up with police commission cards — identifying them as police — has resulted in the termination of the city’s fire chief.

Millersville Fire Chief Brandon Head told WSMV4 Investigates he is baffled by his termination.

“It’s a one-sided story right now,” Head said. “It’s not fair to me. I’ve given my life to the city.”

Head’s termination is the latest to shake up the small Sumner County town, as several city officials — including the city manager and fire chief — have all been terminated since the beginning of the year.

Following the fire chief’s dismissal, city attorney Bryant Kroll told WSMV4 Investigates that Head “wasn’t truthful” about his role in printing (police) commission cards for persons who “should not have possessed them.”

The city is currently investigating how civilians not certified in law enforcement were given either police officer or reserve officer cards. Kroll is currently reviewing film copies of all police commission cards printed over the last several years to determine who was given the cards.

“We’re in the process of investigating numerous issues,” Bryant said. “This includes issues about police commissions (cards), which has been an issue with the city for quite some time.”

WSMV4 Investigates reported last year — as part of our “Thin Blurred Line” investigation — how a recorded call with a former Millersville police chief raised questions about quid pro quo for commission cards.

In one case, Jack Byrd, the owner of a security company who is not a state-certified police officer, was given a commission card from Millersville that refers to him as a “police officer.”

In an email to WSMV4 Investigates, Byrd wrote in part, “I am not in a position to answer why or surmise on behalf of another person for their reasoning or the policies of a city government.”

A WSMV4 Investigation tied Byrd’s company to the former leadership of the Millersville Police Department.

Head told WSMV4 Investigates that while he did print commission cards — along with other IDs for the city — he was not the only one with that access. Head also said he was never asked who he made the police commission cards for.

“I can’t be truthful if I was never asked,” Head said. “No one asked me if I had a card or who I had had printed cards for. There were multiple folks who had access to that printer.”

Head did say he did not make the police commission card for Byrd.

When asked why he was terminated, Head said he didn’t know and was only told the city was going in a different direction. Head was also given a police commission card as a reserve officer but said he underwent police training to earn that card.

Kroll said that everyone given a police commission card by prior Millersville police chiefs has two days to turn them into the city.

“If they turn it in within the next 48 hours, they’ll be granted immunity,” Kroll said. “There’ll be no prosecution, there’ll be no questions asked.”

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