Hullett has been on a police disability pension since 2006 and works as a national organizer for the Teamsters union, which last year wrested away the right to be the bargaining agent for Metro's police officers from the FOP.
The two unions have feuded since then, and FOP supporters are circulating a petition in an attempt to retake control of union duties.
"The safe assumption, since this occurred during the decertification drive, is that it was to somehow discredit the FOP," said Brock Parks, an attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police. "Otherwise, the timing would be too coincidental."
Teamsters attorney Jack Byrd refused to comment.
TBI monitored phone
Before affiliating with the Teamsters, Hullett was the president of the FOP. According to a police affidavit, he admitted to putting up the video devices during a telephone conversation that the TBI was listening in on.
Hullett's lawyer, Alan Poindexter, said it would be "disingenuous" to say that animosity between the two groups didn't play a role in Hullett's actions, "but as far as that being the motive, I don't think so."
Poindexter said Hullett suspected that officers working at the camp had been drinking beer in front of children. Metro police investigated the tip and found no evidence of that.
Scope of probe grows
While a member of the FOP, Hullett ran the camp for "several years" and it remains "near and dear to his heart," Poindexter said.
Hullett allegedly set up the recording devices in early June. He was arrested earlier this month on an aggravated burglary charge, and since then the scope of the investigation has broadened to include the Teamsters union. Search warrants were served at Hullett's home and at the Teamsters' local office.
During a search of Hullett's house, investigators found the names of several people who either knew who was with Hullett or knew he was going to put up the cameras, TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm said.
State investigators were still looking for "at least two" of those people, who probably will face criminal charges, she said. She said they were "current or former" officers, but she would not name the agency they work for.
Two Shelby County Sheriff's officers have been suspended with pay in connection with the probe. Both have been interviewed by the TBI in connection with the Wilson County investigation, sheriff's department spokes-man Steve Shular said. Neither has been charged criminally.
One of the officers is vice president of the Shelby County Deputy Sheriffs Association, which is working toward an affiliation with the Teamsters, Shular said.
(dicksonherald.com)