The City of Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department confirms that Captain Theodore (Ted) Pertiller has been cleared of all suspicion in two incidents that were reported this past March. 

As you recall, two marijuana cigarette butts were found at the Mercury Boulevard fire station on March 11th and turned over to the Murfreesboro Police Department. The next day Captain Pertiller discovered an unknown brown substance in his locker while he was participating in a mandatory locker search with fire department officials as a result of the incident.

As a result, Fire Administration placed Captain Pertiller on administrative leave with pay for a brief period of time, but he was soon returned to full duties and received no discipline over the matter. It was discovered that a co-worker had placed the brown substance in the locker, without Pertiller's knowledge, as a practical joke.

There reportedly was no connection between the marijuana cigarettes and the brown substance found in the locker. Captain Pertiller was cooperative throughout the investigation and both the Murfreesboro Police Department’s initial field drug testing results and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation analysis determined the substance was not unlawful.

As Captain Pertiller acknowledged in his words, “I am glad the matter was resolved because I wanted my name cleared. I voluntarily took two drug screenings, which were both negative. The media accounts of these events were misleading and placed me, my family, and the Department in a false light.