Community calls for more sexual misconduct protections for city police

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Calls for reform rang out from the steps of Diane Nash Plaza in front of the Metro Historic Courthouse Tuesday evening as community organizations united to demand stricter protections against sexual misconduct at the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The rally was a vocal supporter of Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) and local nonprofit Silent No Longer. The groups are calling on MNPD to strengthen measures to protect employees and the public from sexual harassment and assault.

Greta McClain, executive director of Silent No Longer and a former MNPD detective, was a central figure in the event. McClain, who went from investigating sexual assault cases to becoming a victim herself, noted a disturbing trend: The number of MNPD employees reporting sexual misconduct to her organization has increased significantly, from 69 in late 2020 to 92 today.

She expressed concern that the actual number of cases may be higher as many victims may not come forward.

“It’s very painful to see what’s going on there,” McClain said. “Averaging seven reports a year is too many. It’s clear that the current policy is not effective.”

In August, the Nashville Community Review Board (CRB) approved a proposed zero-tolerance sexual misconduct policy for the MNPD. The proposal includes comprehensive guidelines on defining sexual misconduct, legal expectations for officers, Tennessee law, and victims’ rights.

Don Aaron, director of the MNPD Public Relations Office, confirmed that the department maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment and discrimination. “This type of behavior is absolutely prohibited,” Aaron said.

It is the policy of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department that all employees have the right to work in an environment free from all forms of harassment and discrimination. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department will not tolerate, condone, or permit harassment or discrimination by employees or workers. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department considers harassment and discrimination to be a form of serious employee misconduct. As such, this department will take direct and immediate action to prevent such behavior and to correct all reported incidents of harassment and discrimination. Violation of this order may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Repeated violations, even if “minor,” will result in higher levels of discipline, where appropriate.

McClain, however, criticized the effectiveness of the current policy, saying it does not prevent instances of sexual misconduct.

“Yes, they have a policy, but it clearly isn’t working. So when a policy isn’t working, you have to change it,” McClain said.

The proposed CRB plan, which has been four years in the making, is currently being reviewed by MNPD. According to Aaron, it was only recently, on August 6 of this year, that they asked about their policy.

Aaron says MNPD policies and procedures are also consistent with guidelines from the international law enforcement accreditation body, the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, approved by that body in 1994.

MNPD employees are also bound by Executive Order No. 23, Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Executive Order No. 023 | Nashville.gov (nashville.gov)

MNPD employees are also bound by Civil Service Policy 3.1-I(3) of the Metro Nashville Civil Service Policy (filetransfer.nashville.gov)

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