A Rockwood police officer, Charles Haubrich, was fired following inappropriate conduct during a traffic stop on November 13, 2025. Haubrich had served with the Rockwood Police Department since 2007. Since his termination, WATE 6 News obtained evidence, including body camera footage and personnel files through public records requests, to unveil a pattern of unprofessional behavior.

One earlier incident captured on body cam from a July 9, 2025, traffic stop involved Haubrich responding crudely to a woman who mentioned her vehicle’s wheel bearing issues. Police Chief Kelly Pittman described such interactions as part of a broader pattern unbecoming of an officer.

Haubrich’s personnel file showed multiple reprimands and warnings, mostly beginning in 2020. These included two formal reprimands: one for conduct unbecoming an officer after sharing an offensive Facebook post, and another for lingering excessively at the Roane County E-911 center while making inappropriate comments about the weight of female dispatchers, including asking one if she was pregnant.

Despite these issues, Haubrich retained his position until the November 13, 2025, incident. Body camera footage from that event showed him repeatedly urging a female Harriman police officer to “go deep” during a body cavity search of a suspect, even after she stated it was against policy. The female officer confirmed the suspect had been drinking, as Haubrich acknowledged, but she refused, noting they were not permitted to perform such searches. Chief Pittman explained that Haubrich’s suggestion violated state codes, which require body cavity searches to be conducted only with a warrant and by a licensed physician or nurse. He was terminated 12 days later, on November 25, 2025.

Before joining Rockwood, Haubrich had a brief and troubled history with other agencies. He worked at the Graysville Police Department from April to October 2007, resigning after a suspension for poor judgment following a complaint that a 17-year-old girl had entered his parked police car to talk. Earlier, he served at the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department from January to July 2005 before resigning, and at the Englewood Police Department part-time from August to December 2005, where he was terminated (though records of the specific reason are no longer available).

Haubrich appealed his Rockwood termination. Last month, the Rockwood City Council unanimously upheld the decision. He is next scheduled to appear before the city’s Civil Service board.