Community Review Board committee says MNPD adopted many recommendations but gaps remain; board seeks update on third‑party probe

At a March executive committee meeting, the Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Community Review Board’s executive committee reviewed how the Metropolitan Police Department incorporated the board’s recommendations into a new roll‑call training and pressed for a public update on a separate third‑party probe of a 61‑page complaint.

The committee’s staff presenter said the department “basically used the entire section” of the board’s guidance on early‑warning signs and that much of the board’s language on prohibited behavior and employee responsibilities was carried into the roll‑call materials with only minor wording changes. “It looked as if they took everything that we provided under certain subtopics and included it into their policy,” the staff member said.

Why it matters: the board said the roll‑call document is a first step but does not by itself guarantee implementation. The committee repeatedly flagged three areas it wants restored or clarified in the department’s implementation plan: screening and lateral‑recruitment language the board recommended, a requirement for an annual external integrity audit, and a training methodology that goes beyond officers reading and signing a roll‑call sheet.

On the audit point, committee staff reviewed the board’s policy language calling for an annual integrity audit “in collaboration with the CRB” to assess the quality of MNPD misconduct investigations, produce aggregated statistics, recommend policy changes and publish a summary on the department website. The staff member said that provision was not included in the roll‑call training and asked that it be added during implementation.

Metro Human Resources, the staff member said, did endorse portions of the board’s recommendations, including provisions on victim assistance and examples of prohibited behaviors. The staff member said HR recommended that early warning signs be incorporated into law‑enforcement trainings across Metro departments and that victim support and confidentiality be documented in investigative procedures conducted by Metro HR.

Committee members urged the CRB to remain involved during implementation. “There’s some room here for us to work collaboratively with the police department for the implementation of those things that weren’t necessarily in the roll‑call training,” the staff member said. Board members also emphasized that alternative reporting resources and memoranda of understanding with advocacy groups would help victims who fear reporting to law enforcement.

Separately, the committee discussed the status of a 61‑page complaint that Butler Snow, an outside law firm, was hired to investigate. Committee counsel read an email from Butler Snow partner Edward Stanton that said, in part, “our team does not provide updates while our investigation is pending,” and asked the board to forward any information relevant to the investigative scope. Stanton’s message, read into the record, added: “Once our investigation has concluded, we can discuss our speaking with the board.”

Committee members said the lack of a public timeline has increased community concern. The group noted it has repeatedly asked for at least a general status report; one member said it had been about 32 days since a February request for an update and that the investigator was appointed in June of the prior year. Several members urged the executive committee to ask the mayor’s office and Metro Legal to request a non‑substantive progress update and an estimated completion date.

The committee agreed to bring a draft letter to the full board for a vote that would request a status update on the Butler Snow investigation and ask the mayor’s office and Metro Legal to intercede if appropriate. The executive committee directed board counsel to prepare draft language so it can be reviewed and voted on at the next full board meeting.

On a related access issue, a staff member reported a productive meeting with District Attorney Glenn Funk about restoring a Rule 16/ARMS access arrangement the CRB had under a 2015 system‑access agreement and a 2020 MOU. The staff member said Funk indicated support for carving out an exemption that would let the board’s staff access certain MNPD records under confidentiality protections similar to the prior agreement.

The committee then approved a motion authorizing the board’s legal counsel, identified in the meeting as Attorney Brazil, to draft a letter seeking the Rule 16 exemption and any required signatories. The motion was moved from the floor, seconded, and put to voice vote; the chair called for “aye” votes and recorded no opposition. The staff member said the final agreement would require signatures from the board, Chief Drake of MNPD and District Attorney Glenn Funk, and would also involve Metro Legal.

Next steps: counsel will draft two documents for the full board’s consideration — (1) a letter to the mayor and Metro Legal requesting a status update on the Butler Snow investigation and (2) a letter seeking restoration of the Rule 16/ARMS access arrangement with signatories as appropriate. The CRB’s staff indicated willingness to assist MNPD with implementation details the roll‑call training did not include, such as drafting MOUs and SOPs for referrals and victim confidentiality.

The committee also noted minor operational items — Sunny West room maintenance will close that venue for a period starting in late June, and the board is planning community meeting locations for July and August during the closure — and added a short ethics oath to staff paperwork. The committee adjourned after the votes and scheduling items.