r/nashville • u/vcrfuneral_ • 2d ago
Police officer conduct? Discussion
Hello,
I am not sure where to report this, or If I can even do something about it.
Last night there was a terribly bad accident and it happened right in front of us so I was the first person to dial 911.
Police eventually showed up and took care of the family in the first car, but the victim of the second car was severely injured as well. I told two different police officers who were in their vehicles blocking off traffic that there was a second victim severely injured and they didn't respond. There weren't enough ambulances. I didn't want to disturb the medical personnel or police actively involved. It took so long for someone to come over to check on the kid that the victims family had time to drive there and started freaking out and asking for someone to please go and help their sister because at this point she had been pulled into the parking lot and was seemingly going unconscious.
One officer starts screaming in her face arguing with her that she was going to get arrested for being disorderly, but it had been so long and nobody was even paying attention to her. I don't blame her for yelling for help and maybe she had so much adrenaline that she was freaking out, but can an officer get in her face, threaten to arrest her and yell at her for trying to advocate assistance for her sibling?
I gave my conact info to one of the girls as I witnessed everything and left but the police officer was still being a fucking asshole.
I'm probably in the wrong here but are they really allowed to treat us like that?
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u/LoisLaneEl 2d ago
If there was an accident, there should be a report with a number of the officer and body cam video. I’d suggest looking into the body cam video for proof and making a report with that.
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u/wntrkill 2d ago
Hopefully the douchebag didn't silence his body cam like THP has done MULTIPLE times during DUI arrests that has FINALLY come to light, and they were SOBER. I understand "protect and serve", but I just have a massive distrust of police in general, and this is yet ANOTHER reason why! (Shakes head)
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u/BW_RedY1618 1d ago
The Supreme Court has ruled that the police have no obligation to "protect and serve" on at least three separate occasions.
Police are not here to protect or serve us as American citizens. They're here to protect and serve the capitalist class from the working class.
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u/G_Rex Hillsboro Village 2d ago
All I can hope is that other LEOs read this and take note: Your job is to protect and serve. You are a servant to the public. Believing you are anything above that is how incidents like this and Uvalde happen.
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u/houndmomnc 2d ago
In general, the job of police is to protect and serve the property and interests of some people. Most of us are not those people. (I know, I know, #NotAllCops, but many.)
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u/Fanamir 2d ago
No, you hit the nail on the head, you don't need the disclaimer at the end. That is their direct function in society, and if that is the function of the institution then that means that everybody within that institution serves those interests. The people that don't are fired for being bad at their job (in this case, by being good people and having an idealized idea of what they thought police were and should be). So yes, all cops. That's not an attack against all cops as individuals, but it's the institution itself that's rotten not just specific apples.
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u/G_Rex Hillsboro Village 2d ago
I understand that. The police have always been a tool of the ruling class to suppress the lower and middle class. Sadly, in America, the supreme court ruled that police have no obligation to protect anyone from harm, only to protect "the public."
Reason number 5 frickin' million I'm embarassed by the state of our country.
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u/MikeOKurias 2d ago
only to protect "the public."
That's code for "the few ultra rich people out there"
That's why Luigi is a terrorist but the guy who rammed people in New Orleans is a "former soldier".
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u/ButtonDifferent3528 2d ago edited 2d ago
“Police are a servant to the public” is a misconception. Protect and serve does not mean protect and serve the community, it means protect and serve the LAW.
In other words, it is their job to uphold the law through vigilance (protect the law) and cite/detain/arrest where appropriate (serve the law).
This is why regular police officers hold no Constitutional duty to protect anyone according to Supreme Court precedent (Castle Rock vs. Gonzales)… and why situations like Uvalde happen.
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u/Squillz105 Antioch 2d ago
THIS IS THE POINT HERE. The Supreme Court of the United States has decided that Police have no duty to protect the public. So many people NEED to understand this!!
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u/tn_notahick 1d ago
Additionally, it was the police themselves that pushed this case to the supreme Court. They literally lost Navy cases in the lower courts that said "yeah, you protect and serve", and they kept arguing that they didn't have a duty to protect. They argued in multiple courts.
It's not like the courts just said "no they don't"... The police themselves actually pushed until they got the SC ruling.
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u/EffectiveSoil3789 2d ago
They don't give a shit. They just sit in the heat in some random Walgreens lot and watch the city go to hell around them. Collect a check from the taxpayers
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u/Broberts505 2d ago
Iirc, there was a ruling that said police aren't required to protect and serve anymore. The police are just a gang employed by the state. I feel like the Comedian from the Watchmen had it all figured out.
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u/BW_RedY1618 1d ago
The Supreme Court has ruled that the police have no obligation to "protect and serve" on at least three separate occasions.
Police are not here to protect or serve us as American citizens. They're here to protect and serve the capitalist class from the working class.
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u/Glittering_Code_4311 2d ago
Look up Warren vs District of Columbia, the police serve no one but themselves, they protect no one but themselves basically they are their to give you tickets to collect revenue and to serve others in the executive branch of government, the public is not there concern or issue, we are not part of the thin blue line those protected by the courts who gave them qualified immunity.
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u/No-Raspberry4433 2d ago
Are you a cop? If not those are strong words from someone who doesn’t do the job
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u/NashvilleHillRunner 2d ago
You’re getting downvoted but you’re exactly right. Alllll these little crybabies would be calling the police so fast it’d make your head spin if they ever got attacked by a criminal!
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u/effervescentechelon 2d ago
as someone who has dealt with criminals in a retail setting, i NEVER wanted to call the cops on them. fuck off
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u/NashvilleHillRunner 2d ago
Yeah, sure! 😆
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u/Downtown_Audience_96 2d ago
I’d rather be locked in a cell with a known serial killer than a TN cop.
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u/NashvilleHillRunner 2d ago
Haha, we’ll, that certainly tells me all I need to know about you!
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u/Downtown_Audience_96 2d ago
Your lack of intelligence is showing, “NashvilleHillRunner”. I can defend myself fully against one of the two, and would be believed over one of the two. It wouldn’t be the cop. Have fun being a joke.
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u/oldtexaslady 2d ago
Hello again. I sincerely urge you to learn more about court rulings, immunity, how the police force was founded, and what their actual duties are.
There are comments up above that really start to explain how the institution of the police is extremely flawed and must be revamped.
I commented to you last time this came up that if you would take some time to dive into this subject even just a little bit deeper you will find that the police system needs to be completely overhauled. It has origins in slavery and it has gone downhill ever since.
I recently learned a lot about the police in our capitalistic society and it was completely eye-opening. I sincerely hope you will do the same. You will find that you can never go back. Thank you for your time.
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u/AGGGGHHHHH-its-bees 2d ago
And what are the cops doing about the run of smash and grabs in east? Taking 90 mins to respond at the very least? Not investigating? Not collecting video footage being offered by residents? Keep bootlicking those useless fucks, brother. I’m sure they’ll notice you eventually
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u/springbing 2d ago
I’ve never had a timely, compassionate response from MNPD, and yes, they are allowed to treat us like that
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u/NotDrEvil 2d ago
They are not going to render emergency medical aid, that's well beyond anything they are trained for. That's why we have EMTs and ambulances. What they should do is control the scene to keep people from wandering into traffic or incoming traffic from plowing into the already wrecked vehicles with victims still inside. Or, keep the victims where they are so they don't wander into traffic. Don't let the victims move and possibly hurt themselves further. Don't let the victims move so that when an ambulance does arrive, the officer can point and say they are over there... and they will be, because they haven't moved. Or been taken by family for help. Or done any number things.
I once showed up to a T bone collision. Patient 1 complaining of chest pain, other vehicle occupant said he was shook up but fine, still seated with no obvious injuries, seat belt on. While getting Patient 1 with chest pain loaded into ambulance, Patient 2s wife shows up and starts screaming about the car. Dude turns and plants both feet to stand up out of the car. He takes one step and his femur shoots out of his leg. That was fun.
My daughter was a passenger in the back seat of a car that was hit while turning by a car that was traveling 55mph. They had cut the roof off to extricate when I showed up and she had just regained consciousness. I was calm but another family member was yelling, not paying attention to surroundings and an officer absolutely put her in handcuffs and the back seat. Her pelvis was broken in 2 places, concussion and a small tear on her bladder. She's fine now.
When I would show up on scene I appreciated an officer who kept the scene under control and could point me to the victims. Even if they had to yell at someone. Family members are not rational when a loved one is hurt, I've seen it. It sucks when they're hurt and there's nothing you can do. You want help for them RIGHT NOW! But that's not how it works in reality. Control of a scene isn't always pretty or compassionate either. I would be more concerned about the officer letting that victim move out of the vehicle unless there were dangerous circumstances.
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u/WillResuscForCookies 1d ago
Former paramedic/flight nurse here, and this should be the top comment. The police are there to control the scene, not to render aid. Accident scenes are by far some of the most unstructured, dynamic, and dangerous environments we (first responders) find ourselves in, and if you are adding unnecessarily to that chaos, endangering yourself and others, you will absolutely be removed from the situation.
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u/tinyahjumma 2d ago
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u/Dalanard 2d ago
Yes. Yes they are. Qualified Immunity is a bitch.
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u/Mr_Candlestick 2d ago
He was angry because she was disturbing his time to do what they love doing which is sitting there doing fuckall.
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u/Newsdude86 2d ago
Allowed to? Yes unfortunately, but doesn't mean we shouldn't keep fighting against it. Police are often not great at their job and have a mindset of "I am in charge of you so stfu". I've seen it countless times where man childs who just want to throw their weight around fuck up their job constantly because there is zero to no repercussions for doing a shitty job.
Keep reporting it, keep recording it, and keep fighting it. If we don't do anything, cops will keep getting worse and worse.
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u/vcrfuneral_ 2d ago
That is EXACTLY what this cop was behaving like. The other cops that were approaching the victim were not being rude and trying to get her help. It was this one specific asshole who started yelling at this woman.
Like maybe it's not your job to threaten someone whose little sister is passing out on the floor, maybe if you approached her with kindness and reassurance that her sibling was now safe, you wouldn't agitate her and provoke her while she's freaking out.
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u/Maleficent-Yak-3600 1d ago
Getting to where we need to have an independent record of police conduct at any and all situations, all interactions. Can't trust body cams
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u/sendmeadoggo 2d ago
"can an officer get in her face, threaten to arrest her and yell at her for trying to advocate assistance for her sibling?" They 100% can so long as anything she did could be construed as to violate the law.
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u/vcrfuneral_ 2d ago
She wasn't cursing or getting in their space, threatening them. She was screaming for help and trying to get attention.
God I hope we haven't gone completely to shit that they could find a way to construe advocating for assistance as violating the law
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u/sendmeadoggo 2d ago
Trying to get officers attention in an emergency (even if you have legit concerns) while they are doing something else could be construed to be potentially disorderly.
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u/Fanamir 2d ago
To spell it out even further, the laws are long and convoluted and subject to interpretation and cops generally aren't expected to be familiar with it to the extent that lawyers are. So basically yes they're allowed to do it, and they'll be able to come up with some justification for it after the fact if it becomes a problem. And if they can't find a justification for it, they're still protected from liability by qualified immunity. Ain't that a bitch.
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u/HibiscusBlades 2d ago
ACAB. Apparently they can do whatever they want.
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u/847RandomNumbers345 1d ago edited 1d ago
ACAB. Was threatened at gunpoint by a cop (This was in murfreesboro), when I called 911 for my suicidal mother, then tried to explain to the cop that showed up what was happening.
I have no sympathy for cops. I am currently working a job more dangerous than policing (ride sharing) for a fraction of the pay.
Who are you gonna call if you breaks into your house?
I'm a crackshot, fired thousands of rounds at the range, can nail a small target with a pistol from 20 yards. If I was concerned about my safety, I'd buy a gun.
As I get older, I'm befuddled that cops can constantly violently attack people because their feelings are hurt, open fire on randos because someone put their hands around their hips, and complain that they aren't being paid enough because they only have a 6 figure salary with no college + benefits.
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u/intelsrc 2d ago
People behind the scenes have poor conduct, too. My ex, a police camera footage redactor, would use their system to look up my family's criminal history/police encounters.
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u/ISayNiiiiice 2d ago
File a formal complaint but be sure to tag them on socials with the complaint facts as well
They will ignore it unless compelled to do otherwise
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u/Forsaken-Complaint81 1d ago
I think there should be a complaint filed. Did you video any of this? Why would police officer yell at someone? Where was another paramedic? What was the location of accident, that is probably a problem right there.
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u/Neither-Big3749 1d ago
To any metro officers on this forum. Read these comments and find another job. I left being a police officer after 10 years and it was the best decision ever. Leave the field and let the public fend for themselves. All these people do is complain from the safety of their closed doors but none actually want to suit up to be the change they want to see.
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u/847RandomNumbers345 1d ago
I'm probably in the wrong here but are they really allowed to treat us like that?
What happens if they treat us like that?
One of three things:
Police advocates saying we can't expect less of that behavior unless we pay them massive salaries, in which case a wave of Good CopsTM emerge from the pile of bad and rotting appples, and actually act like normal people
Saying the cop should be written up
Saying yelling at a parent is necessary for officer safety. Not your safety ofc, become a CEO before cops start caring about you.
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u/Ochsenschwanzragout 1d ago
Look at the list of our countries worse Police Departments. Nashville is on top of this list. Now you know why.
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u/dansbydog 17h ago
So, most people think the police are in charge of the scene in a car wreck, but not true. Next time go grab a fireman or a paramedic or the emt. Notify them. When ambulances are dispatched to a wreck, a fire engine is always dispatched with them. So, you or she didn’t have to go to the officer really at all. Could have walked up to a fireman like I said.
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u/vcrfuneral_ 10h ago
There were a total of 6 victims in the wreck, two of them kids and a mother whose car had rolled over. There were only 2 ambulances and all the medical personnel on the scene were actively trying to get the family out of the vehicle. I could not have walked up to the firemen on sight.
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u/0ver8ted 2d ago
I see others have told you to file a complaint with the Community Oversight Board. They are good at bringing attention to misconduct but they have no authority. MNPD is not compelled to comply with them either.
I recommend you also file a formal complaint with Office of Professional Accountability (OPA)
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u/Downtown_Audience_96 2d ago
Is there a version of this board for the smaller cities surrounding Nashville?
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u/0ver8ted 1d ago
All of the places surrounding Nashville are conservative. That’s usually synonymous with being pro police. I doubt they have a community oversight board, but I have never asked due to not needing to know.
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u/folgerscoffees 2d ago
Sweetie, that Cop could’ve shot that woman and gotten paid leave and reckless endangerment for firing a weapon.
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u/emptysee 2d ago
The cops can kill you in broad daylight for no reason whatsoever and get no repercussions, are y'all serious right now? They have zero obligations to help or protect you, the Supreme Court ruled that they don't.
Things are going to get very bad, very fast soon. Don't expect the police to gaf
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u/rod-tod-boom-zip 2d ago
Sadly, some cops think they can do whatever they want. They're never wrong
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u/AlexTN9063 2d ago
Dont feel alone, MNPD is hand cuffed by the Nashville government and stopped caring a long time ago. My wife and I were disoriented after we parked and asked 2 MNPD officers which way to Bridgestone Arena and they just rudely walked away. And dont open carry in Nashville, they will harass the crap out of you but ignore the gangs and homeless!!
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u/MeeLedia 1d ago
Welcome to what defund the police does. Literally not enough officers and medical personnel available in metro with the amount of violence happening everywhere. If she was screaming in his face and going crazy while he’s dealing with what a superior told him to do (like handle traffic while a different unit works injuries), yes, that absolutely constitutes him threatening to place her under arrest. Go ahead and file a complaint based off of an extremely skewed view you had into LE. My question is, what have you done/had with you to render aid and help the victims? Because I as a civilian have come up on scenes and worked problems rendered aid because of knowledge that there’s not infinite resources out. Or did you sit in your car and just stare at the whole thing couch quarterbacking?
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u/vcrfuneral_ 9h ago
I was the first person to call 911. My friend was actively trying to help get 3 kids and a mom out of their vehicle that had rolled over by trying to break a windshield.
I actively tried to help another victim who was laying on the side of the road screaming in pain before her other friends decided to pull her up and move her. I stayed on the phone with 911 trying to get advice until the police arrived on the scene.
But yeah the police are saints who obviously did nothing wrong in this situation. There were 5 cop cars on the scene, traffic had been blocked off successfully by this time and alerted them twice. I could not go up to the EMT's or firemen who were already occupied. There were so many people on the scene who were working hard to help the family who rolled over on the side and these girls were receiving no treatment. They ended up going into a parking lot and sitting behind cars so the EMT's or fire fighters couldn't see them which is why I ran over to tell them. They couldn't get up
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u/dubynel86 2d ago
If you feel like filing a complaint, go to nashville.gov and file withe the Community Review Board. They're independent from the MNPD, so the report can't be squashed.