Ten Metro Nashville Police Department officers who were previously questioned following a leak of writings from the Covenant School shooter will be reassigned next month. As first reported by WKRN, the 10 unidentified officers currently work in MNPD's Threat Section of the Specialized Investigations Division.
“Ten individuals from the Threat Section of the Specialized Investigations Division will transition out of the Division next month,” reads an MNPD statement in part. “This is a reassignment, period.”
An MNPD spokesperson tells the Scene they do not have information on what division the officers will be reassigned to in February.
Shooter Audrey Hale killed three children and three staff members at the Covenant School in Green Hills on March 27 of last year. In December, Metro police said the department had “exhausted all available investigative avenues” in identifying who leaked three photographs of handwritten notes by Hale. The photos were published online by right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder in November.
That leak sparked an investigation during which seven officers were temporarily reassigned to administrative roles.
“The investigation has not identified current MNPD employees, or employees of any partner agency, as engaging in the unauthorized release of the images,” MNPD said in December, also noting 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.”
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.
