PIGEON FORGE PULECE DEPARTMENT GATEWAY TO THE GREAT SMOKIES News Release Pigeon Forge Police Department Terminates Three Officers PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 2, 2013) -- The Pigeon Forge Police Department has terminated three officers for conduct incompatible with continued employment. A recording of the officers discussing the killing of other officers was uncovered, which led to their suspension on Iune 19 and to subsequent investigations by the local district attorney's office and the U.S. attorney's office. Although criminal charges were not brought, the officers were terminated to ensure the stability and cohesion of the force, according to Police Chief ]acl< Baldwin. "Officers on the force must know that every other officer supports them," Baldwin said. The dismissed officers are Trinity R. Brown, who was hired in 1999 Iefferson D. Thigpen, who was hired in 2005 Michael L. Musgrove, who was hired in 2009. The circumstance that led to the dismissals began on June 7 when the officers were dispatched to check on the well being of a person Visiting Pigeon Forge. The officers spoke with that person's girlfriend and obtained her personal information, including her cell phone number. A short time later, the woman started receiving text messages and a Facebook "friend" request that she suspected came from one of the officers. She filed a harassment complaint with the Pigeon Forge Police Department on June 9. O. Box 1350 Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37868--1350 Phone (865) 453-9063 The department's criminal investigation division determined there was no violation of the law and referred the complaint to shift supervisor Lt. Gary Campbell, who reviewed police cruiser recordings from the timeframe of the incident. Campbell discovered audio from Iune 8 in which Brown, Thigpen and Musgrove discussed a plan to kill other officers in the department. It appeared the plan had been discussed previously, according to Baldwin. After Baldwin reviewed the recordings, he called for a June 19 meeting with the three officers. "Each officer was asked individually whether he had discussed harming or killing another officer or officers. All three said they had not," Baldwin said. At that point, the officers were suspended without pay due to conduct unbecoming an officer. "Suspending them and subsequently terminating their employment were warranted, both because of the recorded discussion they had ab out killing other officers and because they lied about it when confronted," Baldwin said. Baldwin said he presented the situation to the two prosecutors. Their review determined criminal charges would not be pursued. The Pigeon Forge Police Department has a complement of 54 sworn officers.