SELMER, Tenn. –A former Selmer, Tennessee Police Sergeant found himself on the wrong side of the law.
Robert Carl Pipkins retired in December 2014 after someone he arrested accused him of mistreatment.
Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Pipkins this week.
WREG dug into his past and discovered it’s not the first time he’s faced disciplinary action and charges brought by another department.
The Selmer Police Chief declined to discuss Pipkins’ arrest, but did grant WREG’s request to look at Pipkins’ employment file.
It showed Pipkins was first hired as a “part-time” dispatcher in 1983 and was assigned to the “street patrol” in 1989.
But several red flags showed up.
In 1991 a warning and 90-day probation was issued after being involved in a disturbance with his ex-wife while on duty.
In 2000, he was suspended without pay for two days after failing to follow proper radio procedure.
Then in August 2001 Jackson, Tennessee Police arrested and charged him with domestic vandalism.
The charge was later dismissed.
Pipkins resigned from the Selmer PD two days after the incident, but Pipkins’ file shows he worked on and off for the Selmer Police till this latest incident in 2014.
We went to the address in Selmer given on Pipkins application, but were told he didn’t live there anymore.
WREG did find someone in Selmer willing to talk about the accusations against Pipkins.
Terron Borden has known Robert Pipkins since high school and finds the whole thing bizarre.
“He was a pretty decent dude. But as far as all this stuff I’ve heard he’s done, that’s kind of a shock. I would have never thought he would have done anything like that. But that’s what people are talkin’,” said Borden.
We asked the TBI if the alleged assault was caught on camera or if the victim, who was arrested on a traffic-related charge, contacted the TBI.
We have not received a response.
Meantime Pipkins was released from jail on $5,000 bond.
