Lafayette Police Chief Ray Amalfitano has announced his formal resignation from the department, effective August 31, 2012.
“Basically it was an agreement that it was best for Ray and the City of Lafayette for him to resign,” said Lafayette City Mayor Richard Driver. “He’s got the benefit of the police department on his mind—that’s the kind of person he is. He realizes that it would be best if he did.”
On July 24, 2012, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) received a request from the District Attorney General to investigate an incident involving the Lafayette Police Department Chief Ray Amalfitano that occurred on March 22, 2012 involving a subject who was in his custody.
Keith Pippin was arrested at Lafayette Elementary School on this date after School Resource Officer Deputy Brian Carter noticed that his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Pippin had come to a school meeting on the campus.
There was an altercation with Carter during the arrest, as Pippin allegedly struck Carter in the chest and tried to flee. A Taser was deployed against him multiple times, as he allegedly resisted arrest and struggled with Carter.
Deputy Phil Harper of the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, and Det. Keith Tillman of the Lafayette Police Department then arrived, and Pippin was taken to the Macon County Jail. He was charged with one count of assault, one count of public intoxication, and one count of resisting arrest.
Pippin later told news sources that he had not been drunk that day, but had only been drinking the night before and not brushed his teeth. He had run, he said, because he didn’t want to be arrested for something he didn’t do. District Attorney Tommy Thompson states that when Pippin arrived at the Macon County Jail, he had injuries that indicated he’d been beaten.
The incident that is under investigation with TBI—-which has led to Amalfitano’s resignation—happened later on March 22 and ostensibly involves Pippin. Currently the investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the District Attorney General upon completion for review, according to TBI.
Amalfitano was not available for comment, although he told Nashville News source Channel 2 that it was only “a bunch of rumors being spread around.
“I actually asked for them to look into this. As far as I know, nothing has been found. It’s just a bunch of small town rumors.”
“Ray had been with the department for years, and been a chief for over a year, so he’s done a lot for the department,” said Mayor Driver. “So we hate that these circumstances happened, but we wish Ray all the best with his future.”
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