The Nashville Community Oversight Board (NCOB), which was elected in a voter referendum, protects not only the officers but also citizens. They have recommended the rollout of body cameras and in-car cameras for the Metropolitan National Police Department. They serve a very important function in the community. Historically, the resolution of complaints against police has been dismal. Of 95 complaints made in a recent year, 52 went unresolved, citing insufficient evidence. The board's intervention and recommendation of body cameras could take some pressure off the police force.
Even though some continue to believe this is a contentious issue, it is important to look at how Nashville's police force compares with its peers in other states. Federal reports from 2016 show that nationwide, nearly 80% of police units with a staff of more than 500 officers utilized body cameras. In contrast, Nashville's force of over 1500 officers did not have #bodycameras for the majority of the officers until 2021. Budget constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the roll out of the cameras even further.
The role of citizens demanding police reforms cannot be underestimated. On September 10, 2020, anti racist group Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) protested outside the MNPD headquarters holding placards demanding the suspension on NO KNOCK search warrants. They also asked for clear timelines of the roll out of the body cameras, and the speedy implementation of the '8 can't wait' campaign. Another issue raised was the police violence against black communities, and the killing of locals Daniel Hambick and Jocques Clemmons.
It was the killing of Hambick and Clemmons in part that led to the creation of the Community Oversight Board through a voter referendum. The COB enjoys independent authority to investigate police misconduct, and propose police accountability measures. The board also has access to body and in-car camera footage, and could potentially (and SHOULD) oversee the MNPD body camera program. While the decentralization of power from the police to the Community Oversight Board could be a thorny issue for some, the fact remains that the board was created by Nashville's residents in a special election, and it is needed to ensure that the police are acting in the best interest of all citizens.
