NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Community Oversight Board (COB) is expected to discuss how to fill the executive director position in its regularly scheduled meeting after it was vacated two days ago.
After being appointed in April, William Weeden stepped down as COB director citing high levels of stress. The announcement was abrupt and startling for board members who remain at odds with the Metro Nashville Police Department as a police oversight group.
Jill Fitcheard, COB assistant executive director, has taken over as the interim executive director while board members and Metro Human Resources determine the next steps. Who will replace Weeden will likely be a big part of the conversation in the meeting on Wednesday at the Howard Office Building. It remains unclear if the process to find his replacement will replicate the first go-around when Metro HR narrowed the applicants to a few candidates for the board to interview and choose.
Weeden leaving comes after months of friction and ongoing tension with MNPD as indicated in new documents revealed last month. The Chicago-based attorney vocalized his issues and concerns including obtaining information from Metro police. In response, Chief Steve Anderson said the department has been compliant.
Documents posted to the board's website suggest both parties cannot agree upon a memorandum of understanding (MOU). As a result, Mayor John Cooper announced his office will step in to mediate and negotiate a plan on how both groups will share information going forward. The goal is to have an agreement by the end of the year.
“I’ve been a strong supporter of the COB,” said Mayor Cooper in a press release. “Nashvillians want and expect the COB and MNPD to work together to strengthen trust and provide accountability. I commend Chief Steve Anderson and the Community Oversight Board for coming together to develop an agreement that works for Nashville.”
Chief Anderson designated Deputy Chief Mike Hagar to represent MNPD in the discussion. Meanwhile, COB member Dr. Phyllis Hildreth will be the board's representative. Metro Legal Director Bob Cooper and the Mayor’s Office will convene and facilitate the discussion. Director Cooper will help address any legal issues that may arise.
The scheduled meeting will also discuss the MNCO Mediation Program, which proposes having a mediator between a complainant and the officer involved in the incident.
The COB investigates matters of police misconduct, ignited by officer-involved shootings that killed two different people: Daniel Hambrick and Jocques Clemmons. Community members have been demanding for police body cameras to help with transparency for years but this week, Metro police say the department's plan to buy the cameras is on hold amid the city's budget problems.
The recent Comptroller's Report on Metro's finances put a temporary hold on spending after the previous administration already set aside $15 million to install cameras. To date, about a third of that has been spent on server storage and the ability to upload video via a wireless connection.
According to consultants hired by the Davidson County district attorney, the cost of implementing body cameras could cost the criminal justice system as much as $28 million to have enough staff to review and redact the videos.
