ONLY ON FOX: Police Chief Controls Speed of Internal Investigations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A former police officer says the chief of Metro police forced him to end his 22-year career. He's one of dozens who've written FOX 17 saying Chief Steve Anderson rules by fear and intimidation. Our investigation reveals its costing taxpayers at least $20,000 a month. Because of our investigation, Chief Anderson moved officers accused of violating department policy out of this lobby and behind closed doors but we are learning more about why he keeps officers sitting around doing nothing for months. Albert Gordon believes in his case, it was personal. With all his decorations and awards, Gordon's memories of his 22-year police career are overshadowed by how it ended, "He didn't care about me. He didn't care about my family. All he cared about was his ego." Gordon says Chief Anderson forced him to resign after years of investigating him over frivolous complaints and then sticking him behind a desk stripped of his gun and badge, "In my case, I just watched TV and read the bible a lot.That's how I passed my time but there was no real work." Gordon says he earned $55,000 year to do practically nothing. He's one of dozens who say the chief forced them to sit for months at a time waiting to find out if they would ever be cops again. They say none have it worse than those forced to sit on the green mile, the lobby assignment where everyone assumes their careers are over, "I think it's to humiliate the officers and make them look at the street to say That's where you're going- out the door." FOX 17 looked through Gordon's personnel file and found no serious allegations. It took the internal investigation's division more than 100 pieces of paper to document four minor complaints. Chief Anderson ordered 62-days of unpaid suspension and then asked Gordon to resign, "It's time for somebody to come in and take a close look at all the investigations that have occurred on good officers." A source who worked inside internal investigations tells FOX 17 Chief Anderson does what he wants even when investigations are finished. The source says the chief often keeps findings on his desk and officers waiting for answers. "In my case, I can prove step-by-step that this man, that his intentions are to ruin you. Mentally, if your week in mind, he wants to ruin your spirit. He wants to break you". More than 280 people have now signed an online petition asking the chief to resign. We've repeatedly asked the chief and the mayor to address these allegations but so far they're not talking. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WZTV on Facebook:   / foxnashville   WZTV on Twitter:   / foxnashville   Subscribe to WZTV on YouTube:    / @fox17nashville   Daily News Playlist:    • Playlist   For more information, visit https://fox17.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 615.369.1717 Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow. #WZTV #fox17news #foxnashville