Sullivan County Commissioner Departs from Kingsport Police Department Role
Shockwaves are resonating throughout Sullivan County as esteemed County Commissioner Daniel Horne concedes his post as a Kingsport police sergeant in the wake of an ‘inappropriate photo’ scandal that gained traction on social media. Shocking the city of Kingsport, the resignation came in the midst of an internal investigation.
Daniel Horne’s Legacy in Law Enforcement Comes to A Sudden End
Aged 46, Horne has been a stalwart of the Kingsport Police Department for an admirable two decades. His sudden and unexpected resignation on Friday directly followed the launch of an official internal inquiry. “On May 14, Kingsport Police Department was apprised of Sergeant Daniel Horne’s behavior that falls substantially below the accepted standard of conduct expected from city personnel,” remarked an official from the City of Kingsport.
The city’s statement, issued on Monday afternoon, added, “Following an investigation into the issue, it was discovered that Sergeant Horne sent an inappropriate photo while dressed in his uniform at work which was then forwarded by the recipient, without his consent, to his social media contacts.”
End of Investigation
Just a day following rumors circulating about his actions, Horne was placed on administrative leave. His resignation on Friday curtailed any immediate personnel actions. With Horne’s resignation, the city confirmed that the internal investigation related to the incident is now closed.
Horne was elected as the representative of District 6, which includes unincorporated areas of Kingsport such as Indian Springs and Bloomingdale, on the Sullivan County Commission in 2022.
Consoling a Friend in Need
Sullivan County Mayor, Richard Venable, revealed that he received a call from Horne over the weekend announcing his resignation from the Kingsport Police Department. While Horne refrained from going into the specifics, Mayor Venable offered his long-time friend guidance. “Horne needs to concentrate on ways to regain public trust,” Venable asserted while expressing his concern for Horne personally.
Despite several attempts, Horne could not be reached immediately for comments via email or phone.
