Two Metro police officers were arrested in as many days last week, one for rape and the other arriving to work drunk.
At around 4:15 Friday afternoon, the department announced that Decommissioned Metro Police Lieutenant Curtis Watkins had been taken into custody just before noon after a Davidson County Grand Jury indicted him on charges of raping a woman with whom he had a continuing six-year romantic relationship. The three-count indictment accused Watkins "of having non-consensual sex with the alleged victim once in 2012 and twice in 2013." He was jailed on $100,000 bond.
Watkins had been decommissioned in January after the alleged victim contacted the department. He was subsequently the subject of investigations by the department's Sex Crimes Unit and Office of Professional Accountability, the latter of which is "nearing completion" according to the department.
“Members of this police department deeply value the trust and confidence placed in us by Nashville’s citizens,” Chief Steve Anderson said in the release. “Our commitment to the community absolutely required thorough criminal and administrative investigations of this employee while he was in a restricted assignment with no police authority. As reflected by the indictment and the administrative investigation, the MNPD took this matter very seriously.”
“Certainly, the public has our assurance that allegations against police employees will be investigated thoroughly and completely,” Anderson added.
Friday afternoon's arrest was followed by another arrest and the decommissioning of two other officers on Saturday.
According to the police department, South Precinct Officer Nathan Silvers was decommissioned and arrested after reporting for work at 10:45 p.m. Friday night "in uniform, armed and apparently drunk." A recent graduate of the police academy, Silvers was charged with "DUI (for driving his personal vehicle to work while allegedly intoxicated), unlawful gun possession while under the influence of alcohol, and violation of the implied consent law for refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test."
When he arrived for his shift — after calling ahead to say he'd be late — Silvers' sergeant, Terrence Bradley "noticed that he smelled of alcohol and that his eyes were bloodshot and watery." The department says Silvers admitted to Bradley that he consumed six longneck bottles of beer between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday night.
After disarming Silvers, the department release says Bradley consulted with Field Supervising Captain Kenny Dyer and decided to "decommission Silvers and drive him to his Hendersonville home with the understanding that he was to report to police headquarters Monday morning."
However, according to the department, they did not inform Chief Anderson, South Precinct Commander Paul Trickey or his second-in-command. As a result, they were immediately decommissioned "pending a review of their decision making rationale."
“All members of this police department are expected to conduct themselves in such a way that enhances the trust and confidence Nashville’s citizens have in us,” Anderson said. “It goes without saying that supervisors should lead the way. The events of last night are serious and are being treated as such.”
UPDATE 4:05 p.m.: The department has just announced that Officer Nathan Silvers is resigning and Captain Kenny Dyer is retiring, after each serves a 30-day suspension. Silvers was arrested Saturday after arriving to work drunk Friday night. Dyer was one of two officers who decided to decommission Silvers and drive him home, but did not notify the chief of police or the deputy chiefs.
