Comptroller report details alleged misuse of confidential funds
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury released an investigation this week that traces how a Murfreesboro Police Department detective is accused of taking money from a unit confidential drug fund and falsifying records to conceal the shortfall. A Rutherford County grand jury on Aug. 4 indicted the officer, identified in the indictment as Reginal Primas, on multiple counts including theft, forgery, falsifying government documents and official misconduct.
Primas, who began with the department in 2009 and was promoted to detective in 2021, worked in the department’s Specialized Investigation Section of the Criminal Investigations Division from 2022 until his resignation on Aug. 6, 2026, the comptroller’s report says. Investigators concluded Primas misappropriated at least $2,760 in cash from a drug fund for which he was solely responsible.
How investigators say the scheme unfolded
The comptroller’s office outlined a specific instance during a monthly self-audit in which Primas allegedly withdrew cash from his personal bank account to cover a shortfall in the confidential fund and then returned a nearly equal amount after completing the audit.
- On the day of a monthly self-audit, Primas is accused of depositing $1,420 from his personal account into the drug fund to make the books balance.
- After finishing the self-audit, he allegedly redeposited $1,400 back into his own bank account.
- Investigators later found entries in the fund’s activity log that recorded a cash balance "greater than he actually had on hand," according to the report.
Investigators said entries in the activity log showed a cash balance "greater than he actually had on hand."
The comptroller’s review also found that the department’s CID administration had not been performing routine quarterly audits of confidential funds, which impeded investigators’ ability to determine how long the alleged misappropriation continued.
Allegations of improper database access
Beyond the financial accusations, the report says Primas accessed the department’s Criminal Justice Portal—an application that provides agencies with shared databases, case files and crime data—on at least 14 occasions from 2023 through 2026 to obtain information on individuals who were not connected to criminal investigations. The report does not identify those individuals or describe the exact information retrieved.
The August indictment filed by the Rutherford County grand jury lists the charges against Primas as follows:
- One count of theft
- One count of forgery
- Two counts of falsifying government documents
- Thirteen counts of official misconduct
Local consequences and unanswered questions
The comptroller’s findings raise questions about oversight of confidential funds within the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. The report highlights a lack of routine quarterly audits by CID administration, a gap that local officials say they must address to restore public confidence and prevent similar problems.
At this writing, the report does not indicate whether department leadership took disciplinary steps beyond the detective’s resignation, nor does it detail any restitution or recovery of the funds. The indictment marks the beginning of criminal proceedings in Rutherford County; scheduled court appearances and any subsequent trial will determine legal consequences.
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Primas hired by Murfreesboro Police Department |
| 2021 | Promoted to detective |
| 2022–2026 | Assigned to Specialized Investigation Section |
| Aug. 4, 2026 | Rutherford County grand jury indictment |
| Aug. 6, 2026 | Detective resigned from MPD |
Residents and community leaders who follow police accountability matters are likely to press for clearer auditing procedures and transparency about any steps taken to shore up controls over confidential funds. The comptroller’s report serves as the foundation for the criminal charges now pending in Rutherford County court, and it may also prompt internal policy reviews within the Murfreesboro Police Department.
WE NEWS will continue to follow court filings and departmental responses as more information becomes available.
