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Community Review Board accepts OPA recommendations in multiple officer reviews
Summary
The Nashville Community Review Board reviewed several OPA case reports and voted to accept OPA findings ranging from oral reprimands for speeding to recommendations for additional training; one case sustained discourtesy and deficient-performance findings and drew a recorded dissenting vote.
The Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Community Review Board on its monthly agenda reviewed a series of civilian complaints and accepted Office of Police Accountability (OPA) findings and recommendations for multiple cases.
Lead compliance monitor Amy Simmons presented case 2024‑035, in which an anonymous complainant alleged Officer Benjamin Ellsworth used a phone while driving, failed to signal and was observed speeding. Simmons said OPA "found insufficient evidence" on the turn-signal allegation, determined electronic-equipment use "was authorized by law," and reported that the officer was traveling 72 mph in a 55 mph zone; OPA recommended an oral reprimand for speeding and the board approved that recommendation by voice vote.
The board also reviewed case 2024‑057 involving an interaction between Officer Philip J. Murphy and a downtown visitor during a Fourth of July fireworks event; OPA concluded the officer was correct in identifying the location as state-controlled property and did not sustain a courtesy violation. The board accepted the report. In case 20250579, a complaint alleging Officer Caitlin Powell texted while operating a marked patrol vehicle resulted in OPA finding insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation; NCRB followed that recommendation and approved the report.
The board recorded a separate, fuller debate and vote on case 20252817 (Tanya Watkins), which recommended sustaining allegations of discourtesy and deficient or inefficient performance against the detective assigned to that matter; the board approved the report, with at least one board member recorded as voting no during the roll call. No formal numeric roll-call tallies were published in the meeting transcript; motions were recorded as voice votes and the chair announced that motions carried.
The board’s actions concluded with approvals of two additional case reports, including one that led to a one‑day suspension for failing to notify supervisors when leaving the county during duty. Chair Whitsall noted that all items requiring further action would be placed on a future, properly noticed agenda where appropriate.
