Vanderbilt Police Officer Resigns After Arrest

HERMITAGE, TN — After an arrest for lying to police and drunken gun possession, a Vanderbilt University police officer resigned Thursday. Metro Police say Jordan Thompson, a 23-year-old member of Vanderbilt's police force, misled investigators regarding a pair of shooting incidents inside his Hermitage apartment early Thursday morning.

Hermitage Precinct officers responded to the Canyon Ridge apartments around 1:25 a.m. Thursday after a woman said a bullet came through her ceiling. The officers went to the unit above to find Thompson with a pistol in his waistband. Also in the apartment were Chase Whetson, a 19-year-old Vanderbilt community service officer, and two 19-year-old women.

All four initially denied knowing anything about the gunshot, according to police, but when the officers found a bullet hole in the wall of Thompson's bedroom, things changed. According to the officers, Thompson told them that Whetstone fired the gun into the floor and then brought to him. While Thompson was clearing the weapon, he said it fired into his bedroom wall. According to MNPD, all four had been drinking, though Thompson is the only one older than 21. Ultimately, police say, Whetstone admitted to firing the shot into the floor.

Thompson is charged with lying to Metro officers, a felony, gun possession while under the influence, and allowing underage persons to drink. Whetstone is charged with felony reckless endangerment, lying to officers, gun possession while under the influence, and underage consumption of alcohol. The two 19-year-old women were issued misdemeanor citations for underage alcohol consumption.

Thompson’s special police commission, which the MNPD grants to sworn Vanderbilt officers, is being rescinded at the direction of Chief Steve Anderson.

Image via MNPD