TN: Metro lieutenant investigated after man’s dogs taken from home

Metro lieutenant investigated after man’s dogs taken from home
By Andy Cordan Published: February 10, 2015, 7:36 pm Updated: February 10, 2015, 10:50 pm

NASHVILE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A Metro police lieutenant is under investigation Tuesday after her decision-making is called into question.

According to Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron, tt the heart of the issue is the question: why did she authorize officers to break into a man’s home and take his dogs without his consent?

The story begins Jan. 13 when Metro police officers were searching for a missing 12-year-old on Brick Church Pike around 1:30 a.m.

The officers stumble upon seven puppies and their mother inside a home, which is empty, locked and appears dirty.



The officers think the animals could be in trouble and call Metro Animal Control. The agency refuses to come until the next day because the situation is not considered an emergency.

According to Aaron, that’s when Lt. Morgan Ford of Madison, who never comes to the scene, authorizes her officers to break into the home and secure the animals.

“These officers look in the house, at the conditions; they thought were deplorable with feces, etc, and made decision after animal control did not respond to take the animals out,” he explained.

Lt. Ford orders the dogs be taken to the Nashville emergency clinic in Rivergate.

Vets at the clinic said the dogs were in good condition. The mother and five puppies were then taken to Metro Animal Control.

Aaron told News 2 Lt. Ford and another officer each take a puppy to their private homes.

The owner of the home and dogs, Delbet Porter, wasn’t happy.

“I was very upset someone came into my home. When I found out it was police even more upset,” Porter told News 2.

Two days later on Jan. 15, all eight dogs were returned to him and police began investigating.

“The whole totality of circumstances the decision made and the supervision exercised are under investigation,” spokesman Aaron told News 2.

Meanwhile, Porter says his home was destroyed in last August’s floods and that’s why it’s a mess.

He said his dogs are well-cared for.

Metro lieutenant investigated after man’s dogs taken from home | WKRN News 2