ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Town of Erwin has disclosed the results of its investigation concerning a failed alcohol test by Regan Tilson, the former police chief who has been dismissed.

On Friday, the town published a press statement indicating that Tilson was terminated following an independent investigation after the failed alcohol test dated June 30, 2025.

The investigation concluded the test was legitimately performed and confirmed that Tilson had breached the town’s drug and alcohol testing policy. Consequently, the Erwin town recorder deemed Tilson’s dismissal justified.

The town provided a copy of the investigation report, a summary of which can be found below.

The announcement also revealed that town officials discovered Tilson had provided an “In Service Training Roster” to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission in May, alleging the Erwin Police Department conducted a training session in December 2024. However, the town asserts that no such training session took place.

The town has notified the district attorney general’s office about the submission of the training roster, which has since been forwarded to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for further scrutiny.

“The Town of Erwin and its Police Department will cooperate fully with the TBI and POST investigations,” the release reads.

The investigation

Erwin’s city attorney enlisted Fowler Baker Shade PLLC (FBS) around July 7 to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tilson’s failed alcohol test according to the report. FBS was tasked with examining the details and events leading to the test’s failure.

According to the report, an FBS investigator conducted 16 witness interviews in person and spoke with two citizens over the phone who had relevant information. Those interviewed included Tilson, Erwin Mayor Glenn White, Erwin City Recorder Timothy Bailer and the Ballad Health test administrator.

FBS noted in its report that the investigator was able to speak with everyone requested except for two people identified by witnesses who did not answer any attempts by the investigator to contact them.

FBS also stated it reviewed provided documents like Tilson’s personnel file, the town’s personnel rules and regulations, the town’s drug and alcohol testing policy, documents provided by Tilson and his attorney, and documents related to the June 30 test.

The investigation’s findings

According to FBS, all of the witnesses who interacted with Tilson on the morning of the test were found and interviewed. The report states that everyone interviewed who had been in a morning budget meeting with Tilson that day said he “did not reveal any signs that Tilson was impaired or under the influence of alcohol during their interactions.”

Those in the meeting said they did not notice any slurred speech, smell of alcohol, red eyes or odd behavior.

“Tilson denies consuming alcohol any later than 10 pm the night before the breathalyzer test,” the report reads. “Tilson does state that he consumed energy drinks during the morning prior to the June 30, 2025 alcohol test. It does not appear Tilson acted impaired on the morning of June 30, 2025.”

The report notes Tilson was not scheduled to be randomly tested that day and instead volunteered for the test, something Tilson’s attorney, Todd Hull, had previously stated.

“Tilson clearly did not believe he was under the influence of any alcohol on June 30, 2025 as he had multiple opportunities to decline to be tested and chose to have himself tested anyway,” the report reads.

Tilson told FBS that he knew of at least one other police department that no longer used Ballad Health’s alcohol test due to a false positive, but the report claims no evidence was found that the test was performed incorrectly or returned invalid results.

The test was conducted by a Ballad employee who used an “Alco-Sensor RBT IV paired with an Alco-Sensor IV handheld intoximeter.” The Ballad employee told the investigator he had conducted hundreds of similar tests.

According to the report, Tilson’s first test at 11:04 a.m. returned a blood alcohol level of .080. A blank test was taken afterward to confirm testing, which returned a 0.00. Fifteen minutes later, a second confirming test was administered, and Tilson’s blood alcohol level was .066, FBS reports.

FBS stated the equipment was found to have been operating correctly. The investigator also noted that “while multiple witnesses were surprised by the failed test, the majority of witnesses, however, were not shocked that Tilson failed an alcohol test.”

Tilson reportedly stated that the .014 drop in blood alcohol level over the short period of time between tests indicates that the test was defective. A blue bottle that the Ballad employee returned with was also called into question by Tilson. FBS stated the employee identified it as the calibration bottle that he retrieved after the second test to ensure the machine was working.

Despite being widely regarded as a good police chief, the report stated some witnesses described a change in Tilson of late.

“While most witnesses consistently expressed that Tilson had been a very effective Police Chief through the years, they also consistently expressed that there has been a dramatic change in Tilson. (This became prominent after the Fall 2024 flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.) Witnesses expressed awareness that the events surrounding the flood were traumatic for the community, including Tilson, and also expressed a general consensus that Tilson needs help. Numerous witnesses are concerned for Tilson.”

The report states multiple witnesses thought Tilson needed specific help for alcohol use and claimed to have smelled alcohol on him when he was on and off duty.

“No one can imagine what Tilson went through as Chief of Police for the Town of Erwin during the floods in October 2024,” the report reads. “The genuine concern for Tilson and the appreciation for what he has done for the Town of Erwin is evident from the witnesses interviewed. Many witnesses commented that although Tilson is not currently the same Chief he was prior to the flood, they would support Tilson if he were to receive the help they believe he needs related to alcohol use.”

According to the report, Tilson has denied he would ever drink at work and denied drinking any alcohol after dinner the night before the test was administered. A footnote on the report specifically states Tilson said he had had a half glass bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer the night before the test. He also claimed not to have had any hard alcohol since Helene’s floods and did not drink much before the floods.

The investigator wrote that in their opinion, Tilson could not continue to lead the police department under the current circumstances.

FBS did note that while Tilson was not legally impaired based on the results of the test, he was in violation of the town’s testing policy and therefore subject to disciplinary actions.

Tilson was placed on leave in July after the failed test, and the Town of Erwin announced his termination in August. Tilson’s attorney has filed an appeal to the decision and revealed Tilson has expressed plans to run for Unicoi County sheriff in 2026.