Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community Review Board votes to meet with Immigrant Caucus after reports of MNPD-ICE activity
Summary
The Nashville Community Review Board voted to schedule a joint meeting with the Metro Council Immigrant Caucus after members raised community complaints and a caucus statement alleging MNPD involvement in recent ICE actions; MNPD representatives denied any policy change and said they had been managing scene safety.
The Nashville Community Review Board voted to hold a joint session with the Metro Council Immigrant Caucus to hear concrete evidence behind allegations that Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) personnel had cooperated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Member Cersei moved that the board "establish, as our calendars allow, a joint session with the immigrant caucus" to (1) hear the caucus articulate specifics behind its letter, (2) define the kind of relationship the board should have with the caucus, and (3) determine what follow-up actions, if any, the board should take. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
Members said the request followed a detailed complaint the board received and a public statement read into the record by the Immigrant Caucus, which described recent ICE activity, alleged tactics that included harm to volunteers and the arrest of a four-year-old, and called on the board to investigate. "Four-year-olds are not criminals. Our neighbors are not criminals," the caucus statement said, and urged "accountability, transparency, and dignity."
MNPD Captain Cantrell, present to answer questions, told the board he was not aware of any directive change from the mayor's office regarding MNPD interactions with ICE. "As far as I'm aware, there has not been any change to how MNPD interacts because there hasn't been any directive changes from the mayor's office," he said, describing MNPD's role at a recent apartment incident as a response to a call for service and perimeter management rather than a change in cooperation policy.
Board members discussed the limits of the board's jurisdiction: staff noted formal complaints about the incident were referred to the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) for investigation. Several members urged proactive steps in parallel with OPA, including arranging a special meeting with the caucus and inviting MNPD to participate in later discussions. "We need to assume some review of those processes," Member Cersei said, urging the board to listen to community witnesses and then determine whether to seek additional action.
What happens next: Director Fischer said she will arrange the meeting with the Immigrant Caucus and communicate details to board members. The motion to arrange the meeting passed by voice vote; the record does not list a roll-call tally.
