Former Tennessee police officer Maegan Hall - who was dismissed from the La Vergne Police Department in January 2023 amid allegations of sexual relationships with multiple co-workers - is still embroiled in a lawsuit against the city, her former police chief, and other officers one year after her termination.
The case came to light after an investigation into the La Vergne Police Department uncovered claims of officers engaging in sexual activities while on duty and within city-owned property.
Mayor Jason Cole learned about these relationships from a source, leading to an internal probe. Police interview transcripts, obtained by WSMV4, reveal Hall opening up about the scandal which includes details of a "girls gone wild" party, strip UNO, and a hot tub party.
During the investigation, five police officers admitted to having undisclosed sexual relationships with Hall, who had joined the department less than two years earlier as a rookie.
Subsequently, Hall and three of the officers were fired, while police sergeant Henry "Ty" McGowan also faced dismissal. Additional officers received suspensions for their involvement.
Following her termination, Hall initiated a lawsuit against the city of La Vergne, former Police Chief Burrel “Chip” Davis, former sergeants McGowan and Lewis Powell, alleging that these men had conspired to groom and exploit her sexually when she first joined the department.
She claimed that they subsequently made her a scapegoat when the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced.
The NBC affiliate WSMV of Nashville reported that Hall filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint with the state where she claimed that Chief Davis created an environment where this kind of behavior was actively encouraged.
In her lawsuit, Hall portrayed herself as a "vulnerable and optimistic 24-year-old woman" when she initially joined the force.
The suit continued to describe how, instead of providing professional development, her supervisors and the Chief of Police allegedly groomed her for sexual exploitation. According to the lawsuit, they used their authority to disarm her resistance and ensnare her in degrading and abusive sexual relationships, even sharing tips on manipulating and exploiting her.
With her 51-page lawsuit, obtained by the Daily Mail, Hall has made the claim that she was "groomed" by her colleagues and referred to them as "predators."
Part of lawsuit reads: "Where Ms. Hall sought role models at her new job, she instead found predators. In place of offering professional development, her supervisors and the Chief of Police groomed her for sexual exploitation.
"They colluded in using their authority to systematically disarm her resistance and entrap her in degrading and abusive sexual relationships, even sharing tips on the best ways to manipulate and exploit her."
The lawsuit reveals that Hall was 24 when she began working in the department in 2020, and claims her first sexual encounter was with Sgt. Lewis Powell.
She alleges that Sgt. Powell was aware of her rocky marriage and used this as a catalyst to start a sexual relationship with her.
"Sgt. Powell learned that Ms. Hall was going through the process of buying a home with her husband and that this process was extremely taxing on their relationship," the lawsuit stated.
It continued: "Sgt. Powell positioned himself as a reliable source of companionship and advice regarding Ms. Hall's career and her marriage. Sgt. Powell persisted in requests for sex despite Ms. Hall's resistance. Eventually, Ms. Hall gave in to Sgt. Powell's requests for sexual favors."
In response to Hall's lawsuit, Powell filed a counter-suit, arguing that the relationships were consensual and accusing Hall of lying about the nature of their interactions. Powell claimed that Hall had persistently flirted with him and pressured him to engage in sexual relations.
Two separate investigations into the misconduct allegations found that Hall had indeed engaged in sexual activity with male officers and shared intimate photos and videos.
Hall, in an interview with News Channel 5, discussed her struggles with depression and feelings of entrapment in her job. She accused her supervisors of exploiting her vulnerabilities and mental health for their own gain and sexual pleasure. She claimed that they isolated and shunned her, ultimately blaming her for becoming a victim.
As of now, Hall's lawsuit against the city and the involved individuals remains ongoing, per the Daily Star.
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