A probationary police officer was fired for the use of deadly force when he fired his gun at the car of a suspected burglar.
Metro Nashville Police Chief, Steve Anderson, fired 26-year-old Matthew Nelms for the violation of the police department’s policy on the use of deadly force.
Official said Nelms fired at a Chevrolet Tahoe being driven by a convicted felon and suspected burglar, David Lauderdale on Nov. 30.
He reported that he fired in self-defense because the Tahoe, which was quickly backing out of a yard on Nesbitt Lane, put him in imminent danger.
During the department’s investigation, officials found that Nelms fired his gun at the SUV on the passenger and driver side five times while it was backing away from them.
MNPD use of force policy states:
Employees shall not discharge their firearm at or from a moving vehicle unless absolutely necessary to protect the life of the employee or others.
Employees shall not knowingly place themselves in a position where they would be in jeopardy of being struck by a suspect vehicle or knowingly stand and/or step into the path of a vehicle, creating circumstances where the use of deadly force may be necessary.
Nelms’ Field Training Officer, Joe Pennington, a 15-year police department veteran, also fired at the Tahoe after Nelms began shooting. Pennington said he did so after hearing gunfire and not seeing Nelms, who was obstructed from his view by the SUV.
Pennington said he thought the burglary suspect was firing at Nelms. He was decommissioned Monday and assigned to desk duty pending the continuing administrative investigation.
Burglary suspect Lauderdale was not hit by gunfire. He fled the scene in the Tahoe and was arrested a short time later by police dog Echo after bailing and running from the vehicle on N. Graycroft Avenue.
Nelms graduated from the MNPD Academy in June.
