Christopher Merchant
LA VERGNE – Jason Helkenberg
spent less than a year on his dream job as a police officer before an internal
affairs investigation uncovered a slew of inappropriate activity, according to
documents obtained from the city of La Vergne.
The former patrol officer was
suspended without pay from the La Vergne Police Department pending an
investigation on July 24, according to personnel records from the city's human
resources department. The next day, his employment was terminated on grounds of
alleged inappropriate sexual activity, visiting adult and social media sites and
posting photographs online while on duty and divulging criminal information to
non-law enforcement persons, according to the records.
La Vergne Police Chief Mike
Walker requested that Helkenberg's city email account be shut down while the
officer was suspended, but not before Helkenberg could send an extensive
message to the chief.
"This is my private
downfall," Helkenberg said in the email. "I have let my private life
interfere with work."
Further details about the
investigation of Helkenberg are contained in an internal report, which will be
available to The Daily News Journal Friday, said La Vergne Sgt. David Durham in
a Wednesday email.
Helkenberg was hired Sept. 20,
2013, according to his personnel records. In his email to Walker, he said he
always dreamed of serving others as a police officer due to experiences he had
as a troubled youth.
The email did not sway Walker's
decision, he said.
"He violated his oath of
honor," Walker said. "We have some really good folks here who don't
do things like that. ... We hadn't received any indication of any wrongdoing
prior to that tip, and then we looked into it and took care of it."
Prior to working at the police
department, Helkenberg drove a tow truck and got a degree in aeronautics with a
minor in criminal justice, according to personnel records. The company he
worked for and the school he attended were redacted from the documents. He
applied for a position as an officer after seeing a listing on the city's
website and graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy with
high marks.
Helkenberg received a raise in
pay along with other officers at his pay grade from $16.45 an hour to $16.94 on
July 1, three weeks before his suspension, according to personnel records.
"Upon taking the oath, I
promised to you and every other law enforcement officer in this country that I
would maintain loyalty and trust," Helkenberg wrote in the email to
Walker. "I have since disappointed everyone including myself."
Helkenberg's termination notice
stipulates he cannot apply for a position with the police department again.
"When you lose your
integrity in law enforcement, you're done," Walker said.
