The Metro Nashville Police Department has, according to a late-Friday release, “exhausted all available investigative avenues” in identifying who leaked three photographs of handwritten notes by Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale.
The notes were found at the scene of the March 27 shooting and photographed. Those images were later leaked to and published by right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder, sparking an investigation during which seven officers were reassigned to administrative roles. On Friday evening, MNPD Chief John Drake announced that all officers have returned to regular duties.
“The investigation has not identified current MNPD employees, or employees of any partner agency, as engaging in the unauthorized release of the images,” the MNPD statement reads. The release also notes that an unidentified former MNPD detective who “possessed the images as part of his official duties” would not sit for an interview with police.
“That person declined and is no longer a member of law enforcement. The department does not have the ability to compel statements or cooperation from former employees.”
Police did not disclose how many people were interviewed throughout the investigation, which included forensic investigations of several electronic devices.
“The investigation, led by the police department’s Office of Professional Accountability, determined that the three cell phone photographs were taken in the immediacy of the moment just after the shooter’s journals were discovered in her vehicle,” the statement reads. “Two detectives assigned to the Specialized Investigations Division took the photos (one detective took two photos, the other took one) as part of intelligence gathering to learn more about the shooter and determine whether anyone else was involved with her.”
Police say they are now preparing a case file documenting the investigation, which will be presented to Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk’s office for review.
Metro legal director Wally Dietz, who was ordered to launch the investigation by the mayor's office, was also briefed on the investigation, “which will be advanced with any new or undiscovered information that comes to the attention of the police department.”
Hale’s writings have been the subject of an ongoing court case that seeks the release of the documents. Right-wing activists and media figures have been pushing for the public release.
