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Nashville review board approves several case findings, urges MPD training on phone‑tracking and identity fields
Summary
The board approved multiple OPA reviews, recommended MPD training for officers authorized to use cell‑phone tracking and advised policy changes to let people self‑identify demographic fields in crash reports; the board amended and approved recommendations in a mental‑health custody case.
The Nashville Community Review Board voted to approve a series of Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) investigations and issued several recommendations to Metropolitan Police to improve training and data practices.
Compliance monitor Carolyn Tackett presented a 2024 case in which officers entered a property while searching for a missing juvenile based on a cell‑phone ping. NCRB acknowledged the entry was legally justified by exigent circumstances but recommended that "MPD review its training protocols for cell phone tracking technologies and other similar surveillance equipment to ensure that all officers authorized to deploy such tools are fully trained in their functions, troubleshooting, and relevant data protection and privacy protocols." The board discussed documentation challenges for older cases and approved the recommendation.
In a separate complaint about a crash report, the board reviewed a case in which a motorist, Nolani Bradshaw, said the crash report incorrectly showed an outdated address and that an ethnicity field was filled in based on the officer's perception. NCRB recommended MPD revise policies so officers prioritize allowing individuals to self‑identify demographic information where feasible and provide additional training on unconscious bias. The board approved those recommendations.
The board also reviewed a mental‑health encounter (Ms. Leticia Burns) involving officers and Mobile Crisis, during which Burns alleged restraints were too tight and she had difficulty breathing. OPA had found officers acted within policy; NCRB initially recommended (1) allowing custodial parents time to transfer children before transport and (2) removing handcuffs once a person had been transferred into hospital care. After discussion about feasibility and safety, the board amended recommendation (1) to read "to the extent this practice is not already reflected in MPD policy, it is recommended that..." and voted to strike recommendation (2). The amended report was approved.
Presenters said OPA investigations were generally sufficient but emphasized training and policy clarifications to avoid future confusion. The board approved each report by voice vote.
