UPDATE: We have more news on the “Internal Inquiry” of Detective Ralph Mayercik at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Mayercik is a candidate for Sheriff and is running against current Sheriff, Robert Arnold.
WGNS spoke to Detective Mayercik and he told us he has not even seen the documents surrounding the inquiry, even though he has asked for them. Mayercik was told he could have the investigative documents two hours before they are released to the media, but the department did not specify when the documents would be available to the media, nor what documents they would release.
UPDATE: Since we first brought you this report, we have spoken to Detective Mayercik a second time. Mayercik told WGNS that the inquiry revolves around allegations that he had a relationship ten years ago with the daughter of a woman involved in a case he previously worked. Mayercik told us that he did indeed speak to the woman on numerous occasions, but nothing romantic ever occurred as was allegedly suggested to the RCSO. He stressed to us that he did text and / or speak to her on the phone, but that was the extent of the communication. Mayercik said that it is not unusual for detectives to speak to multiple family members when working a case. He said that he often becomes close to the families he works with as the cases are many times, very emotional for the victims.
At one point, Mayercik was accused of buying the female, who was 20-years of age at the time, an alcoholic beverage while at a bar. He told us that never occurred. Mayercik suggested his communication with the woman came to light in recent weeks because the female and her family are friends with Virgil Gammon who currently works for the Sheriff. More details of the situation are expected to be released on Friday. WGNS will post the documents online.
Mayercik officially resigned from the department on Wednesday. He is the second candidate for Sheriff who worked at the department to leave under similar circumstances in the past 10-months. Jim Tramel, who has filed suit against the Sheriff’s Office, claims he was fired because he announced plans to run for Sheriff (Read the report here). Ironically, the investigation into Mayercik came during the same week he is required to give a deposition in the Tramel case for the courts.
On Thursday, WGNS asked Mayercik if he believed the inquiry against him was politically motivated (33-sec)...
According to a letter of resignation obtained by WGNS, Mayercik stated, “I can no longer perform my duties and work in the unstable environment under the Sheriff’s control any further.” Prior to submitting the letter, Mayercik, who works as a detective in the cold case unit, was offered a position in the Adult Detention Facility. He turned that position down and requested a transfer to the Work Center on South Church St. That transfer was not approved, so Mayercik resigned and then reapplied at the work center where he is slated to start on February 3, 2014. At the work center he will be under the direction of SuperintendentBernard Salandy.
Detective Mayercik has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1995. He started in the detention facility, but was soon transferred to the patrol division. Mayercik began working in the Investigations Division in 2003. His most recent position was a detective who focused on cold case homicides.
