Officer Tartt was doing a benchpress last January and felt a strange pull. When he went to the doctor, he learned he needed surgery and after the operation, his left leg doubled in size. He had developed blood clots and is now taking medication to thin his blood in preparation of more surgery. Though his blood hasn’t thinned quite enough, the surgery must move forward. This Wednesday, July 16th, he is again going under the knife.
Officer Tartt needs the support of this community and I am writing to implore you to help.
I just spoke with Officer Tartt and at this point, he isn’t sure he even has a job with the City of LaVergne*. He was cleared for “light duty” but was told they have no light duty positions available.
The good people at the First Baptist Church and the parish of St. Luke Catholic Church have helped him and his 15-year old daughter Sondrea by providing the family with food. Meanwhile, the money raised several months ago was applied toward his medical bills which Officer Tartt greatly appreciates. In the interim, though, his short-term disability is about to expire and he doesn’t know if he’ll be given long-term disability. And he and his daughter still need to find a way to pay utilities, rent, and buy food.
If you can make a food or monetary donation, please call Officer Tartt at 573-1662. If you prefer, you may contact me by email at kathy (at) bobparks (dot) com and we can make arrangements to get your donation to him.
If you can’t make a donation of money or food, I ask that you offer some prayers for someone who has worked hard to look out for the safety of those of us who live here.
*Come on LaVergne! What’s is wrong with you that you can’t tell a man if he has a job or not?! Have the kahunas compassion to let the man know his employment situation, for crying out loud.
Filed under: Because I Can, City Police, Community Service, Editorials
Officer Tartt is a good man. Those mornings when his daughter rode my school bus, he would be out there waiting with her.
I applaud those parents who sacrifice that extra sleep, that extra minute they have to their selves to spend with their kids at the bus stop.
Good luck officer Tartt my prayers are with you
What’s up with the city not having a light duty position for him? I feel pretty sure that there’s some filing job or other sort of pencil pushing that he can do back at city hall! That is an outrage! Aren’t there federal labor laws against terminating someone while they are out on medical leave? Doesn’t FMLA cover that? Does the city not provide AFLAC???!!! I was once taught that when you can think of nothing nice to say, just say “wow” so
“WOW”.
This is Lavergne remember…lol….Senna what do you think about all this?
Oh by the way people….I have bought a house and I am moving out of Lavergne. I am moving to Smyrna!!!
yippppeeeeeeeeeeee
The FMLA law is your job is protected while your on short term disability, but once that runs out, if there is not a position suited to your disability, they can let you go.
bear, sorry we’re losing you but glad to hear you’re not moving too far. If you don’t mind me asking, did you own a house in LFE and sell it or are you going to become a landlord?
I am a first time home buyer and very excited….Kathy T. has worked with me and she found my house for me…go to my blog and see a pic of it….its in the historical part of smyrna….
Sounds like to me they are trying to get rid of a liability — that’s La Vergne HR Dept.! I, too, can’t believe there is not a desk job or light duty job that is available for Officer Tartt — Put more of the others out on patrol & give him a desk.
That same issue happened to another officer and he just sucked it up and went back to his regular duties. He didn’t have much choice.
I writing speeding tickets considered light duty? If so, send him over to Ridgemont Drive!