Metro Nashville Community Oversight (MNCO) announced that it is fully staffed and in full operation, ready to start receiving and investigating complaints of misconduct against the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
Metro Nashville Community Oversight is the support department for the Community Oversight Board (COB) – which was created statutorily thought Amendment 1 on the Nov. 6, 2018, ballot in Davidson County and was approved by voters. Community Oversight is an independent body that has the power to investigate allegations that Nashville Police officers have committed misconduct against members of the public. Any resident of Davidson County can file a complaint. Once the complaint has been received, the Community Oversight teams will begin an active investigation into the allegation.
The staff is made up of a diverse group of 10 members who include: William Weeden, Executive Director; Jill Fitcheard, Assistant Director; Paula Person, Executive Assistant; Todd Pinckley, Legal Advisor; Henry Ramirez, Lead Investigator; Vernon Johnson, Investigator; April Williams, Investigator; Brensey Thompson, Community Liaison; Peter Vielehr, Lead Research Analyst; and Liz Orozco, Research Analyst. The team has been settling into their new offices, developing rules and regulations for investigation procedures, attending various trainings and working to let the community know that Metro Nashville Community Oversight is up and running.
“I’m super excited to be a part of such a dynamic and knowledgeable team,” shared Thompson. “Each of us has such extensive unique backgrounds, and it’s been really neat to watch all of that come together into our workspace to create a positive force of energy for us and the community.”
Currently, the executive team is in negotiations with the Chief of Police, Steve Anderson, regarding a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. This would create a declaration of cooperative interaction with Community Oversight and Metro Police. Several meetings between the two groups have already been held and both are hopeful that an agreement will be made soon.
Meanwhile, Community Oversight wants residents of Davidson County to know that they are here to listen and be a voice for the community, Community Oversight aims to ensure a culture of accountability with the Police Department and build restorative relationships between the Police Department and citizens of Davidson County.
Community Oversight is located in the Washington Square Building at 222 Second Avenue North, Suite 370-M, Nashville, TN. A complaint can be made to the investigative team 24/7, via phone, at 615-880-1801 (online forms will be available soon). Updates about community meetings, forums and other news can be found at www.nashville.gov/Community-Overisght or on the Facebook page: Metro Nashville Community Oversight.
About Metro Nashville Community Oversight
Metropolitan Nashville Community Oversight was formed after a coalition of social justice advocates called Community Oversight Now led the push for the Community Oversight Board after several police shootings took place in Nashville. Community Oversight conducts independent, thorough, and unbiased investigations of police misconduct, provides a safe place for both citizens and police officers to communicate effectively and operates through transparency, education and community outreach.