Two former employees of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office are facing charges of official misconduct following their indictment by a grand jury. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office declared on Wednesday that the former Corrections Deputy Caleb Anthony Kirkland and former Deputy Sheriff Ava Desiree Hensley resigned amid an investigation that ultimately led to their arrests this week.
According to a WVLT News report, the investigation initiated by the Sheriff’s Office was later handed over to the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The grand jury handed out the indictments on December 4, with Kirkland charged with one count, and Hensley with three counts of official misconduct. Details of the actions leading to the indictments have not been revealed to the public.
The indictments and subsequent bookings into Monroe County Jail have underscored a commitment to accountability within the ranks of law enforcement. The Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones emphasized this stance in a statement to WATE when he said, “No one that wears a badge is above the law, and if a law enforcement officer breaks the public’s trust by committing a crime, and violating their oath while wearing a badge, then they need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Further details on the investigation and the specific accusations leveled against Kirkland and Hensley remain undisclosed at this time. Local community members look to see how the situation unfolds, and, WBIR asserts more information will be provided as it becomes available. The story is expected to receive updates, pending the release of additional details relating to the charges and any further developments within the judicial process.
