An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, working in conjunction with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, has resulted in the indictment of former Murfreesboro Police Department Detective Reginal Primas.
Investigators determined that Primas misappropriated at least $2,760 from a confidential drug fund for which he was solely responsible. An audit conducted by the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) supervisors on January 7, 2026, discovered that Primas’ drug fund was short by $2,760. Primas was then placed on paid administrative leave.
Investigators found that on December 31, 2025, the day he completed his required monthly self-audit, Primas withdrew $1,420 from his personal bank account and temporarily added the cash to his drug fund to make the balance appear accurate. After completing the self-audit, he redeposited $1,400 back into his personal bank account and falsely reported that his confidential fund contained more cash than it actually did. Primas later admitted to investigators that he took money from the drug fund and used it for his personal benefit.
The investigation also found that Primas accessed the Criminal Justice Portal for personal reasons on 14 occasions between 2023 and 2026 to obtain information about at least 10 individuals who were not connected to criminal investigations. Investigators also determined that he shared information obtained from the system with a friend who was not a commissioned law enforcement officer.
Based upon this investigation, in August 2026, the Rutherford County Grand Jury indicted Reginal D. Primas on one count of theft over $2,500, one count of forgery, two counts of tampering with governmental records, and 13 counts of official misconduct. Primas resigned from the Murfreesboro Police Department on August 6, 2026.
“Drug funds require strict accountability because they are entrusted to individual detectives for sensitive law enforcement operations,” said Comptroller Mumpower. “Department policy required supervisors to conduct quarterly audits of these funds, but those audits were not documented. Following that policy may have identified this shortage much sooner and reduced the opportunity for it to continue undetected.”
To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports.
