TBI spokesman who destroyed records resigns
A public information officer with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in West Tennessee has resigned following an internal investigation.
Micheal Jones resigned on Aug. 29, more than two months after he was placed on administrative leave on June 26.
TBI spokesman Josh DeVine released the following statement on Wednesday:
“In accordance with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation policy, the agency placed Micheal Jones on administrative leave on June 26th, due to his potential involvement in a criminal investigation concerning Jason Locke.”
“Upon completion of the criminal investigation last month, an internal investigation was launched regarding Mr. Jones. That investigation was concluded last week, and the findings were given to Director Rausch for his review. On August 29th, Micheal Jones resigned his position.”
An investigation into former acting TBI director Jason Locke that was released last month by the state comptroller’s office discovered that Locke instructed Jones to improperly destroy a government record. Jones had deleted a private Facebook message sent to TBI from Locke’s wife, alleging the misuse of state funds.
Jones oversaw public affairs for 21 counties in the West Tennessee region with the TBI. He’d been on the job for less than a year before his resignation, after previously working as the public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Locke announced his retirement in June, days after state officials confirmed the investigation into his conduct during an alleged affair with Sejal West, a former state employee with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Those allegations came to light after Locke’s wife, Kim, emailed Gov. Bill Haslam’s office.
Reach Elaina Sauber at esauber@tennessean.com, 615-571-1172 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.