Mayor John Cooper and Chief Steve Anderson of the Metro Nashville Police Department have discussed Chief Anderson’s intent to retire after 10 years as Chief of Police. Nashville Mayor John Cooper thanked Chief Anderson for his service and announced the beginning of a national search for a new Chief of Police.
“Chief Steve Anderson, who has served the city honorably in this role since 2010, will retire at the conclusion of our national search and hiring process,” said Mayor Cooper. “Over the next several months, my office will organize input from the entire community as we find the right leader for this next chapter of community safety in Nashville.”
Additionally, the MNPD, along with a public commission, will review the department’s use of force policies and procedures and must address additional public safety demands in the near term, including a nationally televised presidential debate hosted at Belmont University in October.
Chief Anderson’s 45 years of service in the Metro Nashville Police Department, beginning as a patrol officer, is a testament to his unwavering sense of civic duty and commitment to public service.
A graduate of Belmont University and the Nashville School of Law, Chief Anderson is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. With the help of his steady leadership, our community has overcome historic challenges, including the flood of 2010 and more recently, the March 3rd tornado and now, the coronavirus pandemic.
In January of this year, Chief Anderson was appointed to the seven-member Board of Directors of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the nation’s preeminent independent research organization that focuses on critical issues in policing. He received PERF’s Leadership Award in 2016, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of law enforcement and who exemplify the highest principles and standards of true leaders in policing on a national level.
“Chief Anderson is a thoughtful and effective leader – a dedicated public servant who has the admiration of his officers and the thanks of a grateful Mayor for his years of service to our community,” added Mayor Cooper.
The details of the nationwide search process will be announced at a later date.