NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Family, friends, and community supporters will hold a candlelight vigil Friday evening in Nashville for Daniel Hambrick.
July 26 marks the one year anniversary when Hambrick, 25, was shot and killed by Metro Police officer Andrew Delke during a foot chase. Delke, now decommissioned was charged with criminal homicide of the North Nashville man.
Friday's vigil will be held at Watkins Park located at 616 17th Ave. N. starting at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to wear #HambrickSTRONG shirts or any other attire in honor of Hambrick, who was nicknamed DanDan.
Nashville's first Community Oversight Board began at the end of January. Following the deaths of two African-American men at the hands of white police officers, community efforts to form a board heavily ramped up. Executive Director William Weeden said the 11-member board is continuing to iron out wrinkles. Board members are preparing for a 14-month long training course with the police department.
"We have to learn how to work together, the citizens have spoken. We're here, we are prepared to work with the police department and MNPD Office of Professional Accountability. We can't do our job without their corporation. We need the corporation with all stakeholders, political stakeholders, community stakeholders as well as the police department.
Weeden said the oversight board is one piece to rebuilding trust.
"We're an important piece, we're a new piece. Our goal is to build trust. We have to bridge that trust between the community and the police and that is by being as transparent as we can, being as open as we can. Our goal is to investigate every case that comes to us, every case and any allegation of police misconduct that comes to us fairly and go wherever that decision may lead," Weeden said.
Chief Steve Anderson in the past has vocalized working with the board in a positive light.
Regarding the Hambrick case, Weeden would not comment on the pending criminal case. A grand jury indited Delke on first-degree murder charges back on Jan. 7. The next court date will be August 29, 2019 for a discussion hearing.
"We are not involved in that case at all and I don't want to speak to that case because it is a current criminal case pending but we are taking cases that have occurred since the first of April of this year. So any allegations of misconduct that anyone had we would be more than happy to accept and deal with," he said.
The board currently has three cases it is reviewing. Weeden said anyone who would like to contact the board may do so by calling the office at 615-880-1800 or the complaint hotline at 615-880-1801. The board is currently working on a website.
