Pilot Mountain police chief resigns and 3 officers placed on leave amid financial corruption investigation

Pilot Mountain's police chief has resigned and other officers have been disciplined after an investigation uncovered “evidence of pervasive misconduct and corruption" within the department. 

Town officials say officers repeatedly charged a nonprofit to provide security at events, and then pocketed the money. This practice began as early as 2019 and continued until at least 2022. 

They laid out the findings of their preliminary internal investigation at a press conference outside of Pilot Mountain’s town hall on Thursday afternoon. 

“We do not tolerate any acts of corruption or abuse of public trust, especially by those who hold law enforcement roles in our community," said Mayor Evan Cockerham. "We understand that trust has been broken and that our community deserves better. Our goal is to rebuild that trust.”

The town has formally disciplined four employees for their involvement in the scheme. Chief Robbie Jackson, who was placed on leave last week, resigned on Tuesday. Former Chief Daryl Bottoms, who was working for the department part-time after his retirement, has been suspended without pay pending termination proceedings. And Sergeant Jason Chrismon and Officer Ryan Blizzard have both been placed on paid administrative leave. 

The police department only employs around 10 officers, so losing four of them, even temporarily, is a significant hit. Interim Police Chief Adrian Tillotson says the Surry County Sheriff's Office is filling in the gaps. 

He told reporters it’s been hard to watch this unfold. 

“All of us put on a badge and a gun every day, and we come out here, and we do this job, and we try to do it as best we can. And it always frustrated me when I would see on the news some other city or town or municipality where something such as this was uncovered," said Tillotson. "And unfortunately every law enforcement officer in America tended to get painted with that broad brush.”

Town officials were alerted to the scheme by the State Bureau of Investigation, which had launched a probe after receiving an anonymous tip. That investigation is ongoing, and criminal charges have not yet been filed. 

More updates on the town’s internal investigation are expected in the coming weeks.