The Metro Nashville Community Oversight Board (COB) held what could be its final meeting Monday night as a bill to disband the authority awaits Governor Bill Lee’s signature. The measure comes after months of criticism over the Board’s makeup and activity.
State Executive Director of the Tennessee Faith & Freedom Coalition, Aaron Gulbransen told The Tennessee Star, “Nashville’s Community Oversight Board and those like it in other localities have been lambasted by individuals on both the Right and the Left. I think the Tennessee General Assembly made the right call regarding the legislation they passed.” Previously, Gulbransen was a senior reporter at The Star.Â
Following a spate of officer involved shootings, the Community Oversight Board was introduced in 2018 as “Amendment 1,” a ballot referendum. The Board’s purpose, as stated, was to establish “independent authority to investigate allegations of misconduct by The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).” Nearly 59 percent of Davidson County voters supported its adoption.
Since the its inception, however, the COB has been criticized for its constitutionality, for overstepping its authority, and for interfering with police activity. Many of its appointees were nominated by far-left community organizations known for activist stances such as defunding the police.
After five years, a bill to disband the oversight organization passed in the State Senate with a party-line vote of 26-5. A companion bill in the State House passed with a vote of 67-19. The measure now sits on the Governor’s desk for final approval.
The new legislation provides for a different police advisory and review committee. This committee would engage in audits of investigations already completed internally by Metro Police. Proponents say that this new model would create a more efficient process for addressing misconduct and would take activism out of the equation.
In the Monday night COB meeting, discussion of the recent legislation dominated the agenda. Members on the board did not hold back in their displeasure. One member implored citizens to call the Governor and ask him “not to take away the voting right of the people and not sign that bill.” Another critic wished for the Governor to be on the “right side of history” and to “contemplate how bad of a bill this really is.”
If the Governor signs the bill, it will become law 90 days later.
Watch the meeting:
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Mac Roberts is a reporter at The Tennessee Star. Email tips to [email protected], anonymity respected upon request.
Photo “Tennessee State Capitol” by Thomas R Machnitzki. CC BY 3.0.
