CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Supporters of candidates for Montgomery County sheriff have recently brought up disciplinary actions that are in the other candidates’ personnel files. In order to provide voters with all of the information available, Clarksville Now has requested and reviewed the public-record personnel files and disciplinary records of all three candidates for all law enforcement jobs they have held.
What we found: Dexter Mines had two disciplinary actions in his files; Mike Oliver had seven disciplinary actions; Johnny Ransdell had one disciplinary action. Here are the details, along with the candidates’ responses.
Dexter Mines files
Dexter L. Mines has worked for the Chattanooga Police Department (1984-85), MCSO (2002-10), Greenbrier Police Department (2015-17), the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Tennessee POST Commission (2017-22).
Mines’ MCSO personnel file has been destroyed. The archives division does not retain personnel files for former employees beyond seven years.
April 2016: Written warning at Greenbrier PD for “conduct unbecoming of an officer.” A woman who works in another office said Mines abruptly straddled her in her chair and hugged her.
“The incident involved inappropriate workplace joking between colleagues that did not reflect the level of professionalism I expect from myself,” Mines told Clarksville Now.
April 2020: Suspended for one day from POST for “failure to maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public and fellow employees.” Mines was overheard making “several extremely disparaging remarks” to the class about a member of the POST Commission and about the department the commission member works for.
Mines told Clarksville Now it was a misinterpretation of a “discussion and example scenario.” “Although there was no intent to disparage anyone, I understand how the comments were perceived or could have been perceived and why concerns were raised,” he said. “It was a learning moment that reinforced the importance of professionalism and discretion in every setting.”
“No career spanning four decades is without challenges or lessons learned. I have always believed in taking responsibility, growing from experience, and continuing to serve with integrity and professionalism,” Mines said.
Mines had a commendation in his Greenbrier PD file for his patience and professionalism during the arrest of suspect in a DUI crash. The man was yelling racial slurs and threats at Mines and another officer as they calmly placed him under arrest without incident.
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Mike Oliver files
Robert “Mike” Oliver worked for the Tennessee Department of Corrections from May 1989 until March 1990. He then worked for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office from March 1990 until his retirement in January 2022.
December 1989: Written warning at TDOC for continuing to allow articles of clothing to be left hanging over cell doors despite repeated communications and oral warnings. Oliver told Clarksville Now he doesn’t remember the incident, which was 37 years ago.
In response to community questions about his MCSO disciplinary record, on April 23 Oliver posted a statement on his campaign Facebook page detailing those incidents. Clarksville Now verified those disciplinary actions with Oliver’s personnel file, and when contacted, Oliver said the Facebook post covered his responses.
May 1991: Suspended for three days for “failure to perform duties.” Oliver had a public domestic dispute with a woman and revealed to officers at the scene that she had outstanding warrants. He had not previously acted on those warrants.
June 1991: Suspended for two days for “inability to work due to misconduct.” He had to report to the hospital over injuries to his hand after he smashed it into his car’s windshield during an outburst of anger with his girlfriend.
August 1992: Reprimand for “conduct unbecoming of a deputy sheriff” over a public dispute with a woman inside a Quincy’s restaurant. Oliver said it was an off-duty argument with his ex-wife.
“Those (three) verbal disagreements came early in my career and reflected moments where my personal life affected my judgment and conduct,” Oliver said in the post. “Looking back, I understand much more clearly the level of discipline, emotional control and professionalism required of someone in law enforcement, both on duty and off…They were difficult lessons, but they played a role in shaping the judgment, humility and accountability I carried forward throughout the rest of my career.”
July 1993: Suspended for two days for showing his MCSO commission card instead of his driver’s license while trying to purchase alcohol, driving without his driver’s license, then arguing with his supervisor about the matter.
November 1993: Suspended for 10 days for failing to conduct an inmate check, falsifying the records to hide it, then failing to cooperate with investigators. Oliver said he had dozed off in the tower control room and delayed the check by 15 minutes.
“Of all the incidents in my file, this is one of the most serious because it involved both a performance failure and a lapse in honesty. It taught me that integrity is not selective. It must exist even when admitting the truth is uncomfortable or costly,” Oliver said.
December 2020: Counseled for “failure to follow instructions.” As a sergeant, Oliver failed to notify supervisors that he had sent an investigator to an arson scene.
“I am sharing this because if I am asking the people of Montgomery County to trust me, then I owe them honesty about my past, including the parts that are not easy to discuss. These incidents do not define my entire life or career, but they are part of my story. We should look for leaders who have the humility to own those mistakes, learn from them, and grow,” Oliver said.
Oliver’s file also includes letters of commendation:
- Uncovered a marijuana smuggling attempt at the jail (not dated). The drugs were confiscated, and the smuggler was apprehended.
- October 1998: As a volunteer with the search and rescue team, Oliver and his K9 helped locate a deceased infant’s body.
- May 2007: After a 30-minute, half-mile track in the woods in the dark, Oliver and his K9 helped locate and arrest an armed robbery suspect.
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Johnny Ransdell files
Johnny Ransdell worked briefly as a reserve deputy at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Clarksville Police Department in September 1994. He retired from CPD in June 2025.
December 2018: Put on administrative leave without pay for one day for “reporting to duty intoxicated or under the influence.” Ransdell had been asked to submit to “reasonable suspicion alcohol and drug testing” and tested at .029% BAC, which is above the limit for employees on duty.
Ransdell told Clarksville Now the incident took place while he was scheduled to be off through the holidays. He’d had friends and family over the night before and had been drinking bourbon with dinner. The next morning, he was unexpectedly called to pick up and turn in equipment from an employee who had been fired. Ransdell’s supervisor said he smelled alcohol on his breath and had him tested.
“It was not drinking that day; it was drinking the night before,” Ransdell said. “It was just an isolated incident, and I just hate it happened,” Ransdell said. His strong performance as an employee outweighed the incident, which he said “didn’t even come around on the next evaluation. Nothing else was said of it.”
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Ransdell’s evaluations were included in his file. An evaluation in 2010 characterized him as “one of the most polite members in the department,” and commended him for working for several weeks to help an elderly man who had been taken for several thousand dollars in a phone scam, helping him recover much of his money.
An evaluation in 2021 noted that he often worked on his scheduled day off at community events so that CPD could maintain its standing in the community, and so that younger officers with small children could spend time with their family.
His file also includes several commendations:
- Multiple incidents helping in robbery and burglary arrests.
- 1997: Leading a Street Crimes Unit investigation that led to the arrests without incident of seven juvenile gang members.
- 2005: Negotiating for a half-hour with a man armed with a knife and a gas can, getting him to peacefully surrender.
- 2007: Risking his health and suffering smoke inhalation injuries to put out a kitchen fire.
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What happens next in Montgomery County elections?
Aug. 6 election: The candidates will face one another in the general election on Aug. 6. In addition to this being the county general election, it will also be the state primary, with governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and all three state House races on the ballot. Early voting for the Aug. 6 election begins July 17.
Nov. 3 election: In addition to Nov. 3 being the state general election, it will also be the City of Clarksville general election, with the mayor and half the City Council seats on the ballot.
For more information on voting, including registering to vote, go to the Montgomery County Election Commission website, visit their office at 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404, email vote@mcgtn.net or call 931-648-5707.
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