NAACP and NAN write letter to Nashville Mayor during investigation into complaint against MNPD

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Nashville NAACP and National Action Network (NAN) have written an open letter to Mayor Freddie O’Connell calling for action on a 61-page complaint against the Metro Nashville Police Department.

NAN and Nashville NAACP called on O’Connell to take action and meet with the community to hear their public safety plan and “adopt it without delay.”

They claim that the CRB is an “unacceptable compromise” following the dissolution of the COB.

“We urge you to respond quickly to this matter as it has already received national attention, meet with the community in an open forum, and immediately address the issues,” the letter said. “We are prepared to escalate this matter further if necessary, but we hope you will act in good faith to fulfill your duties and responsibilities to the people of Nashville and put the safety and well-being of our community first.”

In the letter, the groups also call on Nashville to oppose the mayor’s “Choose How You Move” plan to improve city transit.

At noon Wednesday, the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship will hold a press conference expressing support for the CRB in its response to a former officer’s complaint against the MNPD.

WSMV4 has reached out to both the mayor’s office and Metro Nashville Police Department for comment, but has not yet received a response from either party.

In late May, a decision was made to hire a lawyer to investigate allegations that MNPD officers engaged in unethical conduct. Former Metro Police Lieutenant Garet Davidson accused them of working with lawmakers to abolish municipal oversight boards across Tennessee, including in Nashville.

Davidson’s complaint includes nine separate allegations, including claims that two officers colluded with lawmakers to limit independent review of alleged police misconduct. The law abolished the Community Oversight Board, which had investigative power alongside the MNPD’s Office of Professional Accountability (OPA).

The new law established the Community Review Board, which has some power to investigate alleged police misconduct. However, the law states that it cannot receive records until the MNPD has completed its own internal investigation. The complaint prompted the CRB to call a special meeting to review Davidson’s claims and figure out who should investigate.

“I’m not going to pretend in this meeting that we have a 61-page document with some very serious and critical issues and not say a single word about it,” said Community Review Board Executive Director Jill Fitcheard.

“I have no confidence that OPA can investigate this impartially and transparently,” said Alisha Haddock, chair of the CRB.

Metro Legal said Edward Stanton, a former Memphis-based federal prosecutor appointed by President Barack Obama, will oversee an independent investigation into the complaint.

“He will take the lead,” said Wallace Dietz, Metro’s legal director. “He will work with the office of OPA Lt. Jerry Hertenstein, who was not on site during the investigation.”

This means that Stanton will make recommendations together with MNPD.

“I think everyone agrees that the allegations are serious and comprehensive enough to deserve attention, and that’s the state of play,” O’Connell said. “And I think it’s imperative that that happens independently.”

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