BOARD FIRES OFFICER AFTER ARREST

TRENTON - City aldermen voted Tuesday to fire an officer arrested over
the weekend on burglary and drug charges.

Trenton Police Chief Will Sanders recommended that the board fire
Officer Bobby Hammonds. A motion was made and seconded, and aldermen
voted unanimously without any discussion to let Hammonds go.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Hammonds on Saturday
for an incident Saturday at the home of Mitchell Pybas, 1306 Harbert
Drive. Hammonds has been charged with felony burglary and possession
of a scheduled 2 substance. He is out of jail on a $5,000 bond on each
charge.

The drug involved is Hydrocodone, a prescription painkiller. Mayor
Charles Tyner said Hammonds had been suspected entering the home
before and was caught on tape entering the home on Saturday. Tyner
said Hammonds admitted that he was using the painkiller.

Hammonds has a hearing on Aug. 19 in Gibson County General Sessions
Court. Sanders said the case is being heard there instead of Trenton
General Sessions Court to avoid any conflict of interest.

There is no state law that requires the city to wait until Hammonds is
convicted before firing him, Trenton City Attorney Richard Gossum
said. The city's policy manual specifies that all city employees "are
employees at will." Gossum said.

"That means that you can be let go for a good reason, a bad reason or
no reason at all," Gossum said.

Hammonds had worked for the department since 1999 and had been
suspended with pay since Saturday.

Sanders apologized again during the meeting to the city and Hammonds'
alleged victim.

Tyner said during the board meeting that the incident was not a
reflection on other officers and that the city supports its police
department and officers "100 percent."

If any employee has problems, help is available through an employee
assistance program, Tyner said.