A Metro Nashville Police Officer was decommissioned following an investigation into a December 2015 shooting.

Officials with the department said Joe Pennington was relieved of his duties for violating policy on using deadly force.

Pennington was training Matthew Nelms at the time. Nelms opened fire on burglary suspect David Lauderdale in a neighborhood.

It was found that the officers broke police policy by jumping in front of the vehicle then firing their guns. Pennington said he opened fire after hearing the shots thinking the suspect was shooting.

Nelms claimed that he fired in self defense, saying that Lauderdale was driving toward him.

However, an internal investigation found that the vehicle was in reverse and moving away from him. Fortunately no one was hit.

Pennington had been on the force for 15 years.

It was found that the officers broke police policy by jumping in front of the vehicle then firing their guns.

Nelms was let go last December.