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.

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...

https://twitter.com/Supermansings/status/1213336787860566016

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!”

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.

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!!!!!

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???

I was a police officer for 15 years.

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.

She. Is. Lying.

#justiceforbothamjean 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 don’t play games with my children’s safety. Here’s a few things I do to try & help keep them safe. Living in these times, I’m grateful for law enforcement training merged with parenting.

1. At home, have an emergency plan (escape routes, meet ups, notifications). In our home, we have bells. If anyone sounds the bells, we know it’s a real-life threat & we go into action.

2. In public, parents sit facing the door — not with your back to the door. You may see a threat coming before your children would recognize it. The earlier you see it, the better.

Today I was asked for a “profound display of racism in law enforcement.”
White officers often drove their cars displaying confederate flags to work (while wearing their uniform). Meanwhile, a black officer posted a historic pic of Black Panther leaders & was suspended 10 days. I must’ve answered too quick, so they asked for another example.

9 Officers all committed the same offense— 8 black & 1 white. White ofc lies about their involvement & received no punishment. 8 black ofcs tell truth & get suspended. Black ofcs pull camera footage & question the

This summer I’ve had A LOT of amazing experiences & met a ton of incredible people. But I’d be remiss not to mention the honor I had of meeting & getting to know a survivor of sexual assault, Nikki Blue, who gifted me “Broken: A Memoir of Sorts” after we made deep connection. So here’s the thing... N O B O D Y grows up wishing to be a member of Sisterhood of Survival (@sister_survival) but somehow women too often find themselves inducted into categories imposed on us rather than those we chose for ourselves.

A year ago today, MNPD Officer Delke shot & killed Daniel Hambrick, who was running away from the officer. I remember this day clearly. I was off duty but went to the crime scene & realized I’d struggle ever putting on that uniform again.

tennessean.com/story/news/cri… via @Tennessean When I got there, community members were adamant that “Hambrick was shot because he was dusting that officer in a foot race... He couldn’t catch him, so he shot him!” I remember feeling sad & paralyzed— & knew I’d have to make unpopular professional decisions.

Here’s a very vulnerable truth about my story that’s rarely talked about but nevertheless exists.
As a woman who knows how unfair the criminal justice system is for black men, it was SO HARD for me to speak out against a black male offender. In the beginning, that kept me silent. At the time of my attack, I’d spent much of my life fighting to protect the innocent (which includes populations we all know are over-policed). When investigators brought me in & thanked me for coming, I replied “Don’t thank me. I didn’t have a choice.” I HAD TO SHOW UP.