MNPD Accountability and Sexual Misconduct Policy
In 2020 Silent No Longer began advocating for 69 MNPD employees who reported sexual assault and harassment, racial and gender bias, and retaliation. That number is now 91, which, in our opinion, either means their policy is insufficient or it is not being enforced.
Recently, twenty-eight people responded to our new MNPD survey. Twenty-one of the respondents are sworn officers, one is a former officer, and six are civilian staff. All are female. All reported being sexually harassed, and five reported being "groped". None of them reported the incidents, citing their fear of retaliation. One civilian said a sworn employee described in graphic detail what he would do to her sexually if he had the chance. She said "I'm terrified he will look up my address and show up at my house. I now stay with different friends because I don't feel safe in my own home." The former officer said "I left because of the misogyny, harassment and complete disregard for the physical and emotional safety of female employees by Drake and the deputy and assistant chiefs. I wouldn't recommend MNPD to my worst enemy."
When asked if the department takes sexual harassment and assault seriously, 100% said "No." All believed the policy recommended by the Community Review Board (CRB) should be adopted in full, but 92% said they didn't believe Chief Drake would enforce the policy. All said they believe a blind review team consisting of sexual assault advocates, members of the Community Review Board, an Assistant DA and a sexual assault investigator is the only way to change the culture within the department.
We have also personally spoken with 30 current officers. All said sexual harassment is rampant. What concerns us most however is that 26 haven't reported the harassment because they're afraid officers who are offenders, allies of offenders or new officers trying to "fit in" won't back them up on calls. That mentality not only endangers officers, it endangers every single Nashvillians. If an officer answers a call and is injured due to no backup, the victim they are their to assist is vulnerable to serious harm. That's unacceptable in our opinion, and should be unacceptable to everyone who calls Nashville home. With that in mind, we ask the Council's Women's Caucus, the Public Health and Safety Committee and the entire Metro Nashville Council to seriously consider the ramifications for our city, our neighbors, and even ourselves or our loved if MNPD chooses not to adopt and enforce the CRB policy, potentially endangering ourselves and our fellow Nashvillians.
We are not anti-police. One of our missions over the past four years has been to protect MNPD officers and civilian employees from physical and emotional injury, and to support them if they are victimized. Our only criticism of the department is that those in command have willfully allowed the reputation of the department to be tarnished by refusing to accept the Police Policy Commission and Mayor Cooper's request to implement the policy in 2020, allowing the sexual misconduct and victimization of MNPD employees to continue. It's our belief the citizens of Nashville want and deserve a police department who is willing to clearly exhibit their dedication to the manta "protect and serve" by fully embracing, implementing and enforcing the CRB policy in it's entirety.
Greta McClain
Founder and Executive Director