Sergeant resigns in lieu of termination

A veteran Rutherford County Sheriff’s sergeant resigned in lieu of termination after violating four sheriff’s office procedures, the sheriff’s office reported Wednesday.

Former Sgt. Jon Levi violated the standards of conduct, use of sheriff’s office vehicles, code of conduct and discipline, stated a report filed by Lt. Matt Goney of the Sheriff’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

Levi joined the sheriff’s office 22 years ago. He started the Mounted Patrol Unit.

Chief Deputy Keith Lowery said Levi was “informed he was terminated for untruthfulness, deceit and dishonesty” but allowed to resign in lieu of termination.

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh asked Goney to investigate allegations of Levi’s conduct after the sheriff’s office received a letter in December similar to another letter received two years earlier.

Goney obtained Levi’s activity log and GPS reports from his sheriff’s office vehicle.

The GPS data showed Levi’s patrol vehicle was parked at or near at the unnamed woman’s home more than 30 times between July 5 and Nov. 29 and being near or at her residence during his shift several times a day some days.

In an interview with Levi Jan. 15, Goney showed Levi a letter.

Goney asked Levi a series of questions.

Levi said he did not date the woman but talked with her on the phone and went to her home one time to help move a chair while off duty. Later, Levi said he had been to home a couple of times to “help her do stuff” and he never stayed at her home more than 30 minutes.

Goney showed Levi a picture of his marked patrol parked next to the woman’s vehicle in her driveway. Levi said it was his vehicle.

Goney showed him activity logs with different dates and asked him if he went to the woman’s house two different times on one day. Levi said it was Thanksgiving Day.

The logs showed Levi was at the woman’s home twice on Friday, Nov. 29. Levi said he helped the woman with a water heater that day.

Levi’s activity log showed him at the woman’s home Nov. 26. Levi said he took his 45-minute lunch at the woman’s home. The log showed he was at her home for two hours and 30 minutes two different days.

He told Goney he borrowed an unmarked sheriff’s office vehicle and drove it to the woman’s home for lunch two or three times.

The investigation noted Levi violated the standards of conduct stating “every deputy shall deal truthfully and honorable with others.”

Levi also violated the use of sheriff’s office vehicles standard operating policy of using vehicles in “any manner that would discredit the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.”

He violated the code of conduct standard operating procedure stating the integrity of a deputy must be “above reproach. Deputy sheriff’s must, therefore, avoid any conduct that might compromise integrity and thus undercut the public confidence in the law enforcement agency.”

Also, Levi violated the “unbecoming or unethical conduct” standard operating procedure.