Published: December 21, 2018

A MAURY COUNTY DEPUTY HAS BEEN FIRED FOR ALLEGEDLY USING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON AN 11-YEAR-OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT. MEDIA SOURCES REPORT, TIM BIRDSONG, WHO WAS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AT E.A. COX MIDDLE SCHOOL IN COLUMBIA, WAS TERMINATED FRIDAY DUE TO AN ALLEGED INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 30TH. BIRDSONG IS ACCUSED OF USING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO BREAK UP A FIGHT BETWEEN STUDENTS. A VIDEO WAS CAPTURED AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRENT COOPER'S OFFICE. COOPER ADVISED HE WAS ALERTED TO THE SITUATION AND HIS OFFICE WILL LOOK INTO IT THOROUGHLY. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT ANY TIME A CHILD IS HARMED, IT IS A SERIOUS MATTER. WHEN THE HARM IS ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY SOMEONE UPON WHOM THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD RELIES, IT BECOMES MUCH MORE TROUBLING. BIRDSONG BECAME AN SRO AT EA COX TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF 2017. A CIVIL SERVICE HEARING IS SCHEDULED WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.