Police officer resigns amid assault accusations
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SELMER, Tenn. — A West Tennessee police officer accused of assaulting a handcuffed inmate turns in his badge. “If you’re handcuffed, you’re at their mercy,” attorney D.J. Norton said. Sgt. Bob Pipkins resigned Friday afternoon after complaints of inmate abuse. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation after Pipkins reportedly hit an inmate, Broderick Walker, who was wearing handcuffs. Walker’s attorney said Pipkins should not have been on the Selmer police force at all. “It’s very disturbing to me and my client this officer was allowed to be on the force in the first place,” Norton said. Pipkins’ personnel file shows this is not the first time he has been investigated. Documents show a domestic vandalism charge in August of 2001 that was later dropped after fines were paid. That is when Pipkins resigned from the police department the first time. He was rehired for two years in 2003, then worked at the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as chief deputy for five years. Pipkins quit his job at the sheriff’s department in 2010, the same day a new sheriff took over. Pipkins then returned to the Selmer Police Department. “They’re criminals, yes, but they don’t need to be treated the way they do,” said McNairy County resident Jacob Morrison. Another inmate, Sammy Dorse, also has filed a complaint against Pipkins with the courts, claiming he was injured by Pipkins a year ago. Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks declined to comment other than to confirm Pipkins has resigned from the department.
