GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — Police officer Chris Torrence was caught on his own dash camera handcuffing a father in front of his three kids and asking him if he was using drugs.
He detained the family for more than an hour while searching the car, and police say he did it without legal cause.
The family complained. The Germantown Police Department began reviewing Officer Torrence’s dash camera and discovered that months earlier at the Hyatt Place on Winchester Road, Torrence pointed a gun at a man’s head.
The man had been pulled over on a traffic stop and voluntarily told Torrence he had a gun in the car.
According to police documents, the driver was ordered to produce the gun, and when he reached for it, Torrence grabbed the man’s neck and put his service weapon to the man’s head.
Police found Torrence used excessive force, violated policy and lied about what happened to his bosses.
Monday night we asked Germantown Police Chief Richard Hall about the five-day suspension Torrence received.
“This was the first complaint on this officer, so he got the maximum five-day suspension recommended,” Hall said.
The chief said this is the “first complaint we had” about Torrence.
“That’s just flat-out false,” former resident Drake Pertuit said.
“I myself complained, me and my mother were at the station with the chief of police complaining, we filed the complaint for harassment.”
Wednesday, Pertuit told WREG he filed complaints against Torrence for similar behavior six years ago.
Pertuit said he felt harassed by Torrence, who accused him of breaking into a home, speeding four different times in one day and having drug residue on his car.
“Me and my mom spoke to the police chief, we filed a report, it was almost like it wasn’t being taken seriously,” Pertuit said.
Deputy Police Chief Rodney Bright told WREG that Torrence hasn’t had any “formal disciplinary action.” There were complaints but not for many years.
Bright said a five-day suspension is very rare for the department and a harsh punishment for them.
He said Hall would have to clarify what he meant by no complaints.
We contacted the city to speak to the chief early Wednesday morning, but we were told he was in meetings most of the day. Later we were told he had left.
Torrence is out on FMLA leave and is due to serve his suspension on his return.