As a former @MNPDNashville officer & survivor of rape from a coworker, I affirm the nightmares reported by current officers are reality.
If you’ve ever wondered why women & survivors of abuse are reluctant to come forth, then let me share this quick story to provide some clarity.
In April of this year, current Captain Jason Reinbold earned himself a spotlight by berating and cursing at a woman & children on a greenway. Until yesterday, I had never had any personal encounters with Captain Reinbold while on the job or otherwise.
However, I did (& still do) support a woman who alleges being sexually assaulted by Captain Reinbold. I firmly understand that speaking out against abusers who are also police officers is one of the scariest things a survivor will ever encounter.
Let me show you why..
Though MNPD claims an independent investigation is being conducted on the alleged sexual assaults, I was notified yesterday that Captain Reinbold has requested my personnel file, which contains personal information & details of me being nearly killed and raped by another officer.
Even worse, I was notified that Reinbold has also obtained the files of his alleged victim. Put yourself in her shoes… Imagine making an allegation on a Captain & then being notified the alleged suspect has your files after you’ve broken silence. Tell me that’s not terrifying!!
For MNPD to allow an accused employee to obtain alleged victim files is disgusting & shows their complacency for the intimidation of victims & witnesses. For those who support survivors to be intimidated and bullied is intolerable.
For Chief Drake to allow his Captains to run rampant & terrorize citizens without consequence is shameful. If frontline officers were requesting files of alleged victims or witnesses during an open investigation, then it would be called obstruction of justice & witness tampering!
In the very least, this behavior would warrant being decommissioned and disciplined. But not if you are a part of the boys club… If officers, survivors, and supporters felt safe reporting the misconduct of other officers, then MNPD would not be in its current bind!!!
In all this, there are a few things I know for sure… Time is up for hiding behind blue walls of silence! Victims & survivors will not be shamed, intimidated, bullied, or harassed into silence! To interim Chief Drake & @JohnCooper4Nash, when you know better, you do better...
And you can both do more than nothing! Do better! You owe survivors at least that much!
My father served 37 years in the US Army & had two deployments. As a young girl (for his first tour), I remember being terrified my daddy wasn’t coming home. But even then, I knew that if he returned, he’d never be the same.
During his second tour, I was pregnant with my twins...
I was still scared he wouldn’t return, but the fear wasn’t for me. It was for my kids, who would possibly not get to know their AMAZING Papa! When he got off the plane from Kuwait he met his grandsons & said, “War is everything wrong in the world, but these twins are perfect!”
Over the last week, Dad & I have had several talks about his feelings in reference to rising tensions. LOTS of veterans are being triggered & what’s happening is everything they don’t want for their sons/grandsons/etc... Mostly, my dad is sad bc he hoped we’d learn by now that
Last week my best friend & father of my sons died of cancer. He was an amazing father & incredible life partner.
Our sons (like him) are creative, brilliant & decided to memorialize their father in ways that are meaningful to them & according to what they know their dad wanted.
Because he was cremated & had to go through fire to complete his journey here on earth, they boys decided to paint pottery — which has to go through a fiery kiln. We each did pieces that made us think of him, and the pieces were blessed before we left.
My girl (who is not his biological child) was loved by him from birth to the day he died. He was the only man at her baby shower! Lol She painted a puppy ( because he loves dogs) & a heart with his name— because he always told her how much he loved her and to follow her heart.
Daniel Hambrick was a felon & should not have been in possession of a gun.
HOWEVER, the officer who chased & murdered him did not know his status as a felon and didn’t know whether or not Hambrick had a valid carry permit. The officer didn’t see him exit the “suspect vehicle.”
I’m all for serving & protecting... but as officers, you’ve got to be serving & protecting more than yourself!!!!!
This case was a game changer! Police departments across the nation preach about implicit bias & diversity until its time to make good on the training. Then it’s everyone for theirselves! Hambrick, like Delke, deserved his day in court. But Delke Killed Hambrick!
When @MNPDNashville officers are decommissioned, they’re placed in a security booth at a precinct (commonly called The Bubble). But there’s an issue— several actually. Tonight I’ll focus on just one. Some officers are made to take reports & work while some get to sit for 8.5 hrs!
Personnel in The Bubble maintain their regular commissioned pay minus any overtime... But some officers are working excessively (taking calls & reports from multiple precincts, walk ins, etc.) while some are paid full salary to just sit there. Who decides who works & who sits???
Policy says investigations should be complete within 45 days. However, there are PLENTY of people who’ve been decommissioned & in the Bubble for MUCH longer —some even over a year! Who is holding MNPD accountable for the mishandling of officers?
If #AmberGuyger performed CPR after shooting #BothamJean in the chest, she’d have blood on her hands, on her uniform, & on the phone she was using her hands to text with.
I’m most grateful that even as hard as this case is, the majority of dialogue on this thread has been sincere & respectful. We are all entitled to our beliefs, and I’m glad to see that most everyone is conveying their opinions respectfully! We can always agree to disagree!
Tonight my 8 year old sons got robbed. The teen/juvenile perp pushed my oldest son & took keys from him as his brother tried to make sense of what was happening. I’m not concerned about the “stuff”— not the actual keys or my self-driving car or the possessions the keys keep safe.
I’m worried about the fact that 8 year old KIDS are now terrified to go outside. I’m angry that my sons are now replaying this event over & over & apologizing for a crime they didn’t commit, but are nonetheless impacted. I’m bothered that my twins have been touched by violence.
I’m sad that as juvenile crime in Nashville rises, the response from Juvenile court seems ineffective and obsolete. But this problem isn’t new to Nashville. @JohnCooper4Nash @MayorBriley @SheilaCalloway what’s being done to restore hope in our Juvenile system?