Ex-Collierville cop terminated by MS dept. after missing gun leads to decertification
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Collierville Police officer allegedly left his service weapon in a Walmart while working off duty, resigned the day before a disciplinary hearing, then was hired and fired by Olive Branch Police this year.
DeMario Pree faced a hearing Thursday before the state’s Police Officer Standards and Training board. He didn’t appear, and the panel voted for default decertification, meaning he can no longer work in law enforcement in the state of Tennessee.
WREG Investigators obtained the records Collierville Police submitted to the POST board, stating on March 2 this year, Pree was working an off-duty security job at a Walmart in Hickory Hill.
He claimed he was feeling sick, so he went into a bathroom, unholstered his service weapon and laid it on a changing table. Still feeling sick, he told his supervisor he was leaving early.
When he got in his car about an hour later, he noticed his weapon wasn’t in the holster. He went back to the restroom and looked for the weapon, even searching the purse of a woman who was in the restroom and reviewing security camera footage, but didn’t find it.
Former MPD officer indicted for deadly pursuit had been written up for another 5 months earlier
He later told his supervisors he had accidentally holstered his service weapon that day, instead of his off-duty weapon.
Another officer told CPD that on March 2, just after Pree’s service weapon was reported missing, he spotted Pree in an Academy Sports in Cordova, purchasing the same kind of handgun as his service weapon.
CPD said this proved Pree was using his service weapon while off-duty.
He resigned from CPD March 7, the day before he was scheduled for a disciplinary hearing.
DeSoto D.A.: Video of inmate’s escape stolen, grand jury investigating
It is not clear when Pree began working for the Olive Branch Police Department, but on Thursday after the decertification hearing, OBPD released this statement:
“Effective immediately, Demario Pree is no longer employed by the Olive Branch Police Department. Personnel matters are not discussed by the Olive Branch Police Department nor the City of Olive Branch.”
Last month, two ex-Memphis Police Department officers resigned from the force under allegations surrounding an unauthorized pursuit that resulted in a deadly car crash. Both were sworn in as officers by the Hernando Police Department on Feb. 27.
They resigned from Hernando PD in May, after they were indicted on two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, four counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, and official misconduct. MPD has requested both of those officers be decertified.
Memphis Police Officer Gregory Marlar was also up for decertification. The charges against him involved reckless driving on Central Avenue on July 21, 2019.
Police say Marlar almost hit several cars and crashed into a support structure. They say he never reported the crash and later admitted he had been consuming alcohol.
When officers attempted to place him in custody, Marlar was heard on body camera telling them “You better call more cars. Somebody is going to get punched in the face. It isn’t going to be pretty.”
He then attempted to run and had to be tackled and arrested by police. The report says he became belligerent, cursing the officers.
Marlar resigned February 27, 2020. He reportedly died before his decertification hearing. The commission decided that because of Marlar’s death, the proper thing to do would be to take no action.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
