In the letter, the groups also call for Nashville to oppose the mayor’s Choose How You Move plan for upgrades to the city’s transportation.
By Caleb Wethington
Published: Jun. 12, 2024 at 12:08 PM CDT|Updated: 4 hours ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Nashville NAACP is calling for an investigation following allegations that high-ranking Metro Nashville police officers worked with lawmakers to disband the community oversight board, which was responsible for investigating claims of police misconduct.
The NAACP and the National Action Network (NAN) penned an open letter to Mayor Freddie O’Connell calling for action in response to the 61-page complaint against the Metro Nashville Police Department.
NAN and Nashville NAACP called for O’Connell to take action and meet with the community to hear their plan for public safety and “adopt it without delay.”
They claim the CRB is an “unacceptable compromise” following the disbandment of the COB.
“We demand that you respond quickly to this matter as it has already garnered national attention, meet with the community in an open forum and immediately redress the issues,” the letter stated. “We are prepared to further escalate this matter if necessary, but we hope you will operate in good faith to uphold your duties and responsibilities to the people of Nashville and prioritize the safety and well-being of our community.”
In the letter, the groups also call for Nashville to oppose the mayor’s Choose How You Move plan for upgrades to the city’s transportation.
At noon on Wednesday, the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship is holding a press conference, speaking out in support of the CRB as it responds to the complaint by a former officer against MNPD.
WSMV4 has reached out to both the mayor’s office and the Metro Nashville Police Department for comments and has yet to receive a response from the mayor’s office, but MNPD did respond.
MNPD’s response is as follows:
“This police department looks forward to Counsel Edward Stanton’s review of the assertions and opinions in Mr. Davidson’s complaint. As that occurs, our more than 2,000 employees continue unabated in their work to enhance public safety and quality of life across all of Nashville’s neighborhoods.
Concerning the legislation, as we have said previously: Deputy Chief Gilder recalls being asked to visit the Office of Professional Accountability in late July or August of 2023 to brief the staff on changes in state law that created the Community Review Board versus the former Community Oversight Board. As an attorney who had helped members of OPA and other department components navigate the COB process since it was created, Gilder thought nothing was unusual in being asked to explain the differences created by the new statute. When he got to OPA, he was surprised to receive a small acrylic star. The inscription named him OPA’s Star for 2023. Gilder’s perception of the context for this was his help in resolving various issues in the relationship between OPA and the COB. Gilder and Assistant Chief Mike Hagar reject as false any assertions that they were involved in the process of crafting legislation concerning the CRB or lobbying for it. They also did not appear before any legislative committee.”
In late May, it was decided an attorney would be investigating the allegations that officers with MNPD committed unethical actions. Former Metro Police Lieutenant Garet Davidson accused them of working with lawmakers to abolish community oversight boards across Tennessee, including Nashville.
Davidson’s complaint includes nine different allegations, including claims that two officers worked with lawmakers to limit independent review of alleged police misconduct. The law abolished the Community Oversight Board, which had the power to investigate alongside MNPD’s Office of Professional Accountability (OPA).
The new law set up the Community Review Board, which has some power to investigate suspected police misconduct. However, the legislation said they cannot obtain records until MNPD finishes its own internal investigation. The complaint caused the CRB to call a special meeting to look into Davidson’s claims and figure out who should investigate.
“I will not sit in this meeting pretend that we have a 61-page document that has some very serious and critical issues and not say one word about it,” said Community Review Board Executive Director Jill Fitcheard.
“I don’t have faith that OPA can investigate this in an unbiased, transparent matter,” said Alisha Haddock, Chair of the CRB.
Metro Legal said Edward Stanton, a former federal prosecutor out of Memphis who was appointed by President Barack Obama, will oversee an independent investigation into the complaint.
“He will oversee it,” said Metro Director of Law Wallace Dietz. “He will work in conjunction with the office of OPA Lt. Jerry Hertenstein who was not there during the time of these investigations.”
That means Stanton will work alongside MNPD to make recommendations.
“I think everyone agrees that the allegations are serious and thorough enough to merit attention and that’s where we are,” said O’Connell. “And I think it’s imperative that this be independent.”
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