Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:41 am

Three Murfreesboro Police supervisors were disciplined for their roles in a female officer’s complaint about gender discrimination.

Officer Erica Brinkley complained Sgt. Shawn Murphy discriminated against her based on her gender during a meeting Nov. 18 with City Attorney Susan Emery McGannon.

A committee of five city supervisors investigated and found Murphy did not discriminate against Brinkley but found his conduct by using profanity and his demeanor of intimidating behavior violated city policy. They interviewed the three supervisors, Brinkley and 13 other officers.

Also, the committee found Lt. Tom Sissom and Sgt. Garry Carter failed to notify the personnel director about Brinkley’s complaints.

Police Chief Glenn Chrisman issued a written reprimand against Murphy last week and ordered he receive remedial training in supervision and leadership, remedial training in obscene language and conduct and undergo stress management training.

Chrisman placed Sissom on two days suspension without pay and on probation on year. He was ordered to receive remedial training on contacting the personnel director with complaints of discrimination and to receive remedial training in supervision, management and leadership.

The chief issued a written reprimand against Carter and ordered him to receive remedial training on contacting the personnel director with complaints of discrimination and to receive remedial training in supervision, management and leadership.

In her complaint, Brinkley alleged she was discriminated by Murphy against on the following complaints of different treatment of males in:

• Scrutinizing of traffic reports.

• Using a red pen to highlight inaccuracies in reports.

• Making vulgar, threatening remarks toward her.

• Burning a corner of a report.

• Wearing mirrored sunglasses.

• Transferring her to different sections of the city for her work assignment.

Also, Brinkley reported Sissom responded to her complaint of a hostile work environment by stating she could speak to another sergeant.

She reported during the Nov. 11, 2009 roll call Murphy cursed and ordered officers not give reports to another supervisor or “I’m going to take those reports and shove them up you’re a--.”

Murphy said he returned a crash report to Brinkley because it was not correct. She had her husband, Officer Curtis Brinkley, turn in the report to another sergeant, which angered Murphy. He denied his comments were directed at Brinkley.

Carter said he believed Murphy indirectly made the comment about Brinkley. Both male and female officers are intimidated about how Murphy scrutinizes their reports so they turn in reports to him. He said Sissom is aware of this but did not respond.

Sissom said Murphy’s comments were not appropriate and counseled with him. He moved Brinkley to be supervised by another sergeant. Also, Sissom said he made a mistake in not communicating complaints of discrimination to the personnel director.

The committee found Sissom “exacerbated the problems between Murphy and many patrol officers by requiring officers to turn their reports into another sergeant and by reassigning patrol officers to another zone when friction developed between the patrol officers and Sgt. Murphy.”

Also, the commit stated “Murphy’s management style, his pattern of yelling at employees, his use of profanity, his use of terms of endearment and speaking to other officers with an intimidating voice leaves some employees to feel bullied or ridiculed, this violating the city’s fair treatment policy.”