Bristol policeman resigns amid sex harassment probe

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — A 21-year veteran Bristol, Tennessee police officer has resigned as a department investigation into sexual harassment involving an auxiliary officer continues.

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Bristol Police Department (BPD) Sgt. Daniel Graham resigned late last week, writing that he has “undermined the trust that you and the citizens of Bristol have placed in me,” Graham wrote in a letter submitted Thursday, 13 days after his Feb. 2 suspension.

BPD began an internal investigation into allegations of possible sexual harassment on Jan. 29. A Feb. 2 memo from BPD Chief Matt Austin that placed Graham on administrative leave with pay noted Austin received information “about an alleged Sexual Harassment situation involving several Officers, Supervisors and an Auxiliary Officer.”

Austin wrote that during the internal investigation that immediately followed, “(s)everal allegations were corroborated. During an interview with Sgt. Daniel Graham, he admitted to engaging in inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.”

While Graham’s future with the department is sealed, Austin told News Channel 11 the investigation continues. Multiple officers were suspended, the City of Bristol confirmed last week.

Graham had been employed at BPD since July 2002. He formally apologized in his resignation letter, citing his conduct and “placing the department and the City of Bristol, TN in a negative light.”

Austin said he wouldn’t comment on the case as long as the investigation was ongoing.

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