Former Selmer Officer, Sentenced to Prison, Shares His Story
MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. – Former Selmer police officer, Chris Reynolds, was sentenced to prison Wednesday for violating the civil rights of an arrestee. “I just don’t want people thinking that I’m a monster when I’m not,” Reynolds said. “I’m human, and I’m a human that made a mistake.” Reynolds was fired from the Selmer Police Department after being accused of beating an inmate in April of 2011. Reynolds admits he assaulted James McKinney, but said the victim taunted him, making threats against his family. “I got very, very angry and wasn’t able to control myself as I should’ve,” Reynolds said. “[It] caused me to act more upon emotions than not being able to keep professionalism.” McKinney’s medical records show he suffered a skull fracture, a brain bleed and other injuries. Reynolds was sentenced to a year in prison, along 2 years of supervised probation. “I’ve lost everything that I know; my career, my wife, embarrassment and shame upon myself and my family,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said if he could go back to that day, he would change everything. But now, this incident will be attached to him forever. “People think that police officers are robots, and we’re not,” Reynolds said. “We have emotions and feelings too. And I have regrets from that night and there are things I wish I could’ve done differently.” As a military veteran who served two tours of duty, Reynolds said he just wants to move on. “All I know is there’s nothing but uncertainty to the future,” Reynolds said. “I just want to get it over with and get on with my life.”
