State issues 62 violations against company accused of allowing ‘imposter cops’ on Nashville streets

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is requesting the immediate suspension of a Mt. Juliet company’s license, alleging they allowed civilians to wear police identification and use red and blue lights in non-police vehicles.

The state agency filed a notice of hearing and charges with an administrative law judge, citing 62 violations against the security company Solaren.

Solaren, and its owner Jack Byrd, have been at the center of WSMV4′s “Thin Blurred Line” investigation, which exposed how the company is accused of allowing imposter police officers to work at the Opry Mills Mall and in downtown Nashville.

Our investigation also linked the company to the embattled police department in Millersville and how Byrd, a civilian, also wore police identification and had a police commission card.

Our investigation uncovered one of the people employed by the company and allowed to wear a police uniform is a felon.

According to the state’s civil violations, of the 50 people Solaren allowed to wear police badges and uniforms, only five were actually off-duty police officers.

The state’s filing also cites eleven instances where Solaren allowed blue and red light modifications on private security vehicles, even though only police vehicles are allowed to have those lights.

Byrd issued a statement to WSMV4 Investigates, writing in part, “Solaren plans to vigorously defend itself through the administrative process. At this point, we’re seeking relief by all legal means at our disposal to rectify the shortcomings of the Department of Commerce and Insurance.”

The violations issued by the station names some of the civilians wearing police identification exposed in our reporting.

Mentioned in the state’s filing is Chris Tubbs, a civilian security officer who worked for Solaren.

We found Tubbs not only wearing police identification on social media but also accused by a Wilson County man of using red and blue lights in his personal car in order to pull him over.

According to the filing, Tubbs wore police identification for security jobs as off-duty police officers made more money than civilians.

The filing states that Tubbs agreed to have his security license revoked after paying a fine. Also mentioned in the state’s filing: Dustin Carr, the former assistant police chief of Millersville.

Our reporting revealed that once Carr resigned from Millersville, he went to work for Solaren and continued to wear police identification.

In Tennessee, once an officer leaves a department, that person is then considered a civilian and no longer has a license.

The Department of Commerce and Insurance is asking the administrative law judge for a hearing on these violations.

WSMV4 Investigates will keep you posted on when that hearing is set.

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