By Bob Fowler
Knoxville News-Sentinel
TENNESSEE — Two Anderson County corrections officers have resigned and one was fired after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations of “inappropriate conduct” involving female inmates.
District Attorney Dave Clark said in a news release issued Monday afternoon that criminal charges weren’t warranted.
There was “insufficient proof of sexual contact or any other criminal behavior on the part of any of these jailers,” according to the press release.
Anderson County Sheriff Paul White declined to identify which jailers were allowed to resign and which officer was fi red.
White said those steps were taken about a week ago and that he is “not allowed” to discuss the matter because the TBI hasn’t released the results of its investigation.
All three officers had been placed on unpaid administrative leave since shortly after the probe was launched more than two weeks ago.
One of the jailers was accused of sexual contact with an inmate, as well as “unprofessional conduct,” according to Clark’s news release.
The other two jailers were accused of “unprofessional conduct or failure to follow procedures,” the news release states.
Clark said the probe uncovered “evidence of inappropriate use of language and unprofessional conduct among a few detention offi cers.”
Clark said the sheriff told him of the initial allegations and asked for an outside investigation “to preserve the integrity of the process as well as to quickly and accurately fi nd the truth.”
White at first said the investigation stemmed from allegations made by “four or five” female inmates. On Monday, Clark said the probe centered on only one inmate, but a second female prisoner may have been involved.
Copyright 2009 Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.