Veteran SRO Charged, Fired After Assaulting Student

According to Sheriff Michael Fitzhugh, a School Resource Officer, who is a 15-year veteran of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, was charged with assault, perjury, filing a false report, and subsequently terminated.

Jimmy Sanford, 53, of La Vergne was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, after detectives investigated an arrest that he made Monday at Smyrna West Alternative School.

Investigation revealed that Sanford handcuffed, and then assaulted a 16-year-old male student before taking him to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center in Murfreesboro, Fitzhugh stated.

“We’re not going to accept lawlessness on the part of our law enforcement or detention officers,” Fitzhugh said. “It is unacceptable.”

Sanford’s court date, bond and mugshot will be released tomorrow.

This is an open and active investigation; therefore no further information will be released beyond that.