The Nashville Community Review Board on Nov. 17 discussed a misconduct referral involving Lieutenant Christopher Mason and voted to forward the case to the police chief and Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) for further explanation and review.

At a board meeting presentation, compliance staff said a complainant reported observing a Metro Police vehicle traveling about 90 miles per hour on Interstate 24 on Jan. 23, 2024. Staff said they corroborated the allegation with track‑star data showing speeds up to 87 mph and confirmed the identified lieutenant was driving the vehicle. The presentation noted the lieutenant entered a pre‑investigation settlement and that OPA did not list additional recommendations because the officer ‘‘accepted the responsibility for his actions’’ and OPA considered the investigation closed.

Board members expressed concern about the adequacy of discipline given a previously recorded ‘‘last chance’’ agreement in the lieutenant’s file. Member Walter Searcy argued the officer’s rank and leadership role merited stronger review, and another member noted the earlier suspension and last‑chance terms. Board member Joe Brown moved to forward the file to the chief with a request that OPA explicitly explain why this speeding incident did not constitute a breach of the last chance agreement; the board also recommended a review of whether the punishment was adequate. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff said the last chance agreement language treats certain categories of misconduct (designated E in MNPD’s categories) as separable from the last chance breach standard; the board nonetheless requested clearer enumeration from OPA about what constitutes a breach and whether the discipline imposed aligns with expectations set in that agreement.

The board’s action is advisory: OPA and MNPD retain authority to determine discipline. Board members stressed the request is to seek clarity and to recommend reconsideration where the board believes the sanction may not match the conduct.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of minutes: voice vote, passed.
- Motion authorizing the board attorney to file a public records request for outside‑review invoices and time entries: passed (one opposed noted in the record).
- Motion to forward CC‑2024‑006 (Lieutenant Christopher Mason) to the chief and request OPA to explain why the last chance agreement was not considered breached, and to ask MNPD to reconsider the adequacy of punishment: motion carried by voice vote.

The board said it will await OPA and MNPD’s written responses and may revisit the matter once the office provides the requested rationale and any supplemental information.