Ex-Franklin Police Officers Charged With Official Misconduct

FRANKLIN, TN -- Two former Franklin Police officers accessed a criminal justice database after-hours and unofficially for months, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

In April, the TBI began investigating allegations of misuse of information against Britton Cornell and Ryan Dugger, both 25 and both then-officers with the FPD. The TBI said between January and April 2017, Cornell and Dugger had used the Criminal Justice Portal System for excessive inquiries on their days off and after hours. Neither man is currently employed by the Franklin Police Department.

The Williamson County grand jury returned indictments against the pair Dec. 4., charging official misconduct and official misuse of information. Cornell was arrested Wednesday and Dugger turned himself in Thursday.

“After ordering an administrative investigation, I contacted District Attorney General Kim Helper to request a review of this matter by her office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,” FPD Chief Deborah Faulkner said. “The criminal indictments of Cornell and Dugger for Official Misconduct and Official Misuse of Information were the result. Franklin Police Officers depend on and value the trust of our citizens. Violating that trust is never an option.”

Photos via TBI