MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Two Millington officers fired over an unsecured evidence room at the police department are fighting to get their jobs back.
Officers Tully Reed and Charlie Coleman were let go after almost $20,000 disappeared from the room.
City leaders said neither took the money, but the scandal brought to light other problems with how evidence was being stored.
Tully Reed will have his hearing Monday. Charlie Coleman’s case will be heard Tuesday at Millington City Hall. They will go before a three-person panel, appointed by the mayor, and those people will decide whether the officers go back to work.
Attorney Jeff Ward is representing both and is fired up for his clients, two men he said should still be on the payroll at the Millington Police Department.
Reed and Coleman were fired by city manager Ed Haley after a scandal over missing money from the evidence room highlighted problems at the department.
“Do they want to solve a crime, or do they want to have a scapegoat?” Ward asked. “They have no interest in finding out who stole that money. They’re covering their butts.”
A report from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service called for a more secured evidence room.
Haley said because that was not taken care of, the firings were warranted.
“Let’s give an honest, open answer, and let’s have a dialogue about it, and let’s see where that takes us,” Alderman and Vice Mayor Chris Ford said.
Ford admitted Haley’s decision to fire the officers was made quickly.
“I trust that the city manager did what he thought was best at the time. I do trust that. We’re not always going to see eye to eye though.”
Although, the appeals panel can just as quickly undo those terminations if they so choose.
“What has been said by the city isn’t true,” Ward insisted. “You can prove that to a 9-year-old. Getting their jobs back … is something different. We’re going to go in there. We’re going to fight hard, and we’re going to fight for what’s right.”
Both hearings will begin at 9 a.m. and are open to the public.
The panel has up to 90 days to make a final decision.
