A former leader of the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association says the organization pushed him out after he challenged alleged misconduct, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Nashville. Jeff Bledsoe’s complaint says he raised concerns during his four-year tenure about falsified attendance records for training sessions, gifts that were not disclosed and sexually explicit material shown during a virtual board meeting. The allegations have not been proven in court. The lawsuit alleges that after Bledsoe sought to address the issues, some board members began meeting privately and creating grievances against him. In October 2025, the board allegedly held an unannounced meeting and fired Bledsoe while he was sick. Bledsoe’s complaint says the association did not follow proper procedures in ending his leadership. The firing came seven months after association members unanimously voted to extend his term, according to the lawsuit. Bledsoe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, including lost wages, as well as court costs and fees. The case puts the association’s internal oversight and handling of misconduct complaints at issue; the claims remain allegations as the case proceeds.