Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester wants state Rep. Chad Faulkner of Luttrell to focus his energy on helping families in Campbell and Union counties instead of sponsoring legislation that could alienate law enforcement from the rest of the community.

Faulkner’s bill, HB 2659, would require a copy of any complaint against a law-enforcement officer to be shown to the person accused in the complaint prior to any investigation. Such a measure would likely discourage some people from reporting inappropriate police behavior, Forrester pointed out.

“Mr. Faulkner should be more concerned about bringing more jobs to his district than about intimidating someone who reports the bad behavior of a police officer,” Forrester said. “Our police officers do a tremendous, and often thankless, job keeping us safe, and we should be grateful.

“But most frivolous and unsubstantiated complaints are weeded out with procedures already in place. Mr. Faulkner has a history of questionable behavior, and this is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to make it harder for the public to report abusive or inappropriate behavior of a law-enforcement officer.”

Faulkner has been sued at least three times for alleged civil rights violations in his capacity as a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy, according to lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court.

Last year Faulkner also tried to add an amendment to legislation that would prevent counties with charter forms of government from altering or reducing the duties, qualifications and privileges of the offices of sheriff, register of deeds, county clerk, property assessor or trustee. Knox and Shelby counties are the only Tennessee counties with charter governments.

“It’s obvious to me Mr. Faulkner is more concerned about feathering his own nest than taking care of the people he was elected to represent in Campbell and Union counties,” Forrester said. “Our state is facing some tough economic times, and the General Assembly should be focused on how to turn this around and get more Tennesseans back to work.

“We shouldn’t have a lawmaker at the Capitol who doesn’t understand what his job is or who he represents. It’s time for Mr. Faulkner to start doing what he was sent to Nashville to do,” he added.