Nashville Activists Begin Push For Police Community Oversight

NASHVILLE, TN -- On the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a group of Nashville activists announced a push for a community oversight board for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

According to the Nashville Scene, the group Community Oversight Now will begin collecting signatures April 11 to get an amendment to the Metro Charter on the November ballot.

Under the proposal, an 11-member board will have the ability to investigate claims of misconduct by MNPD.

1. The board shall have the power to investigate allegations that Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers have committed misconduct against members of the public, as well as issue policy advisory and resolution reports assessing allegations of misconduct by MNPD, recommendations to agencies involved in public safety and the administration of justice, and have the option of establishing a monitoring program that provides an ongoing review or audit of the complaint process administered by the MNPD Office of Professional Accountability (“OPA”) or equivalent internal affairs program in MNPD.

2. Where the board finds a basis to believe that an officer has committed misconduct in violation of MNPD policy, the board may refer such matter to the MNPD Office of Professional Accountability (“OPA”) and recommend that discipline be given within the parameters of civil service rules and regulations of article 12 of this Charter. MNPD shall be required to respond to the board’s disciplinary recommendations in writing.

3. The board has the option of forwarding resolution reports that produce factual findings of criminal misconduct and civil rights violations to District Attorney, the Grand Jury, or the United States Attorney.

4. The board shall have all powers, including the power to compel, afforded to other metropolitan government agencies, boards, and entities identified in Section 18.10 of the metropolitan government charter.

5. The board shall submit to the mayor, through the director of finance, an annual budget request of no less than $1,500,000.00 beginning and after the fiscal year 2019-2020, and it shall be the duty of the council to determine if this amount is sufficient for the operation of the board and staff.

The board will have seven members nominated by the community, two by the Metro Council and two by the mayor. All will be approved by the council and serve three-year terms.

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Though calls for a community oversight board date back years, they have increased following the shooting death of Jocques Clemmons, who was shot by MNPD Officer Joshua Lippert, who remains on desk duty in the department's records office.

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