Personnel file of MS sergeant accused of sexual misconduct details past policy violations
By WMCActionNews5.com Staff | April 24, 2019 at 6:20 PM CDT - Updated April 24 at 8:39 PM
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A Mississippi police sergeant accused of soliciting sex from women he arrested has previously violated department policy on a different force.
Roderick Brown Jr. was de-certified in Arkansas last year but is now working with the Holly Springs Police Department.
Brown filed an objection of our request to view his personnel and disciplinary file from the Marianna, Arkansas, Police Department. However, the Attorney General overruled his request and gave us the file.
His file from the Marianna Police Department outlines employment history, certifications and disciplinary actions taken against the now Holly Springs Police sergeant.
Brown was de-certified in Arkansas after allegations of sexual misconduct. He was accused of soliciting sex from women he arrested for leniency while with Forrest City Police.
Documents show the now 40-year-old Brown joined the Marianna, Arkansas Police Department in June 2014. Six months later, he resigned.
A letter to Brown from the Marianna Police Chief says he was suspended without pay for three days back in August 2014 after another officer couldn't reach him over the radio.
The letter accuses Brown of not answering the call because of retaliation and anger. According to the letter, Brown had also been written up for detaining two juveniles and interrogating them without their parents, even damaging one boy's wrist.
The letter also says Brown received a verbal warning for detaining a man without legal justification. Four months later in December, Brown was suspended for 10 days without pay after he was found to have violated three department policies.
Holly Springs officer under review for 'grossly unprofessional' behavior reported at previous job
A letter from a Marianna lieutenant states Brown took the wrong person into custody on December 7. The next day, Brown got in trouble for not cleaning his patrol unit after drugs were found under his seat. The letter goes on to say Brown was told to clean his car twice, but failed to do so.
In a letter written by Brown on December 16, 2014, he resigned. saying, "This department has become a hostile work environment due to jealousy and a lack of respect for the department and the officers that do their job."
Brown's file also includes employment questionnaires, including one filled out by his former chief, Kevin Crawford from the Gallaway Police Department. Crawford said he would not re-employ Brown, rating him "poor" on honesty and trustworthiness.
The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training is still reviewing Brown's certification after we brought Brown's case to their attention.
We reached out to Holly Springs Police, Brown and the city attorney for comment on this story and have not heard back.