Tennessee police chief fired after investigator concludes he was aware of a sex scandal that rocked the department

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The Tennessee police chief, whose department was rocked by revelations that at least five male officers had sex with a female officer, both on and off the job, has been fired.

La Vergne Police Chief Burrel “Chip” Davis was fired Monday after an “outside investigator” concluded he was aware of what was happening but did not discipline any of the officers, the city said in a statement. release.

“The finding also states that Davis prevented the initial investigation into sexual misconduct, ‘contrary to City policy and permitted, if not encouraged, conduct potentially contrary to state and federal law,'” the statement said.

Deputy Chief Brent Hatcher has been named acting head of the 60-person department in suburban Nashville as the city searches for a permanent replacement.

“There are no words to describe the disappointment and frustration felt by myself and other city leaders,” La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole said. “Officers are held to a higher standard, even more so by your boss.”

Davis’ departure came after the former officer at the center of the sex scandal, Maegan Hall, filed a complaint with the state Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Davis fostered an environment that encouraged this type of behavior. illicit, the Nashville’s WSMV NBC affiliate informed.

Officer Maegan Hall is sworn in by Chief Burrel “Chip” Davis of the La Vergne Police Department in Tennessee on August 19, 2021.La Vergne Police Department

The former boss, who is not charged with sexual misconduct, was placed on paid administrative leave after the city was notified that Hall had filed a complaint with the EEOC, according to the affiliate.

“The actions of a few do not represent the department as a whole,” Davis said last month when the story broke. The officers involved were charged with participating in “Girls Gone Wild”-type parties, having sex at the police station, and sharing cellphone photos of their genitals.

Hall was fired last month along with four male officers: Sgt. Lewis Powell, Staff Sgt. Henry Ty McGowan, Detective Seneca Shields, and Officer Juan Lugo-Perez.

Officers Larry Holladay, Patrick Magliocco and Gavin Schoeberl were suspended.

Magliocco and Schoeberl returned from their suspensions, while Holladay forcibly resigned, city spokeswoman Anne Smith said.

In addition to trying to reach Davis for comment, NBC News has reached out to all of the officers who have been fired or suspended, but has not received a response. They were also charged with hindering the investigation by lying about their actions and violating department rules against sexual intercourse while on the job.

The department’s investigation began Dec. 12 after a police sergeant told Cole that Hall “had intimate relationships” with other officers, according to a report obtained by WSMV which laid out the allegations in graphic detail.

Under questioning, Powell, Magliocco, Holladay, Shields and Lugo-Perez admitted to having sexual relations with Hall, according to the report.

Hall also admitted to having sexual relations with those officers and also with McGowan. She said that she also shared nude images with Holladay, Magliocco, McGowan and Schoeberl.

Shields told city investigators that Hall performed oral sex on her in the police gym after initially stating, “I have never had sexual relations with Maegan Hall,” according to the report.

Powell also initially denied having a sexual relationship with Hall, according to the report. He later admitted in the report that he also had oral sex with Hall on duty at a police substation.

Magliocco told investigators that in addition to having sex with Hall, he also proposed to “do things” with him and his wife. Holladay also reported that Hall floated the idea of ​​having a threesome with him and his “ex.”

In what the report described as contentious interviews with senior police officers, McGowan admitted that he went to Hall’s house with another woman and exposed his genitals. He was also accused of trying to intimidate a city human resources assistant by grabbing her by the throat.

“McGowan claims it was a game, however it was not an aggressive and unwanted form of physical contact that is not allowed at work,” the report says.

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