A “tense” confrontation between a Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officer and the security detail for Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton on October 6, 2025 gained attention when the body camera and dash video of the MNPD officer resulted in a story by WKRN News 2 in December.
Now, the grandstanding Democrat State Representative Justin Jones has fired off a letter to the Tennessee Attorney General requesting an opinion regarding the so-called reckless endangerment alleged to have occurred as the Speaker’s security detail traveled 82 mph (as stated by the MNPD Officer in his body cam video) rather than the 85 miles an hour alleged by Jones. Jones is essentially calling for an Attorney General investigation when the appropriate action would likely be a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) when two separate law-enforcement agencies of essentially investigated themselves and of course cleared themselves.
Jones claims in his letter to the Attorney General that Sexton’s chief of staff, Kevin Johnson, filed a formal complaint which, according to Jones, would constitute a criminal act of filing a false report. Johnson apparently informed both MNPD and THP of the incident but there is no record of any formal complaint ever being filed by Johnson or anyone else.
Jones also requests an opinion from the State Attorney General regarding the right of the Speaker to exceed the speed limit when the legislature is “not in session.“ The House Speaker is one of those who are afforded a protective detail under Tennessee law and specifically protected from interference or obstruction by any individual, including MNPD, pursuant to TCA 39-16- 505. Others who have protective details and are driven by THP officers include the Governor, the First Lady and the Lt Governor.
It is good that Justin Jones is suddenly so supportive of MNPD officers Since he had no qualms about jumping on a police car at a Black Lives Matter rally a few years ago.
Or assaulting a police officer at a Marsha Blackburn speaking event in 2018.
Jones’ lack of familiarity with state law is clearly exceeded by his hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with law-enforcement officers.
The October 6 “incident” and videos, however, certainly do deserve a more thorough and detailed examination of the facts than MNPD has provided thus far.
The particular MNPD officer involved in this incident has reportedly pulled over other Tennessee highway patrol vehicles for. “speeding” over the last several months. Did he ever apply to the THP and get rejected?In the October 6 case the unmarked THP vehicle flashed it’s blue lights repeatedly, thereby informing the officer that it was a law-enforcement vehicle. When the MNPD officer first confronted the THP officer he assaulted him, and then in accurately stated that he had run the license plate of the vehicle but “hadn’t come back yet“. The internal video in the MNPD vehicle indicates that he was having a conversation with dispatch about the license plate and we’re aware that it was some form of law-enforcement vehicle.. Why did he make that false statement to THP officer? Finally, like Justin Jones is the MNPD Officer, the dispatcher, and others in the department, unaware of TCA 39-16- 505?
The MNPD officer was in an unmarked vehicle. The THP officer at one point questioned how he was to knew it was an actual legitimate police vehicle. It was a good question, particularly since Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered last summer by man posing as a police officer. The assailant posed used a modified vehicle that looked like a police car and wearing a realistic police uniform, mask, and body armor, gained entry to the victims’ home under the pretense of a welfare check. Even other police officers were fooled by the car and uniform. Protective details in the current environment, have every obligation to be wary and suspicious when performing their protective duties.
Apparently, there was a young woman doing a “ride along“ with the MNPD Officer on October 6. There are reports that she was a “intern“. What kind of intern? For who? Who authorized the ride along? Has she done previous ride alongs with this particular officer? If so, how many? The video in the MNPD vehicle has the officer stating that he has a passenger and was not going to do a pursuit, yet he engaged in high speed engagement with the THP unmarked vehicle. MNPD has very restrictive policies regarding “high-speed chases“. Were all of those procedures followed in this case? Was the pursuit of this THP vehicle that had already flashed its blue lights authorized by anybody? If so, who?
MNPD cleared its Officer of any wrongdoing. However, has he had previous disciplinary issues? Has he, in fact, been pulling over THP vehicles over the last few months? Are other MNPD officers doing the same thing? THP also cleared. It’s Officer. With the questions regarding the incident, it appears that a TBI investigation would be merited to ensure that there are no coverups in either organization.
References to House Speaker Cameron Sexton having a “chauffeur” by some in social media over the last few weeks ignores the risk that our public officials face, and which is what justifies the security details who escort them. Whether it’s the murdered legislator in Minnesota, the assassination attempts on President Trump, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and other recent examples, the threat to those in public life has never been greater. Law enforcement officials at every level should recognize that and give those engaged in protective detail duties every opportunity to keep themselves and their protectees safe and secure. If the MNPD officer who caused this “tense situation” on October 6 doesn’t understand or appreciate that, then the leadership at MNPD needs to make sure that he and every other officer under their command does.
Maybe the MNPD Officer was just having a bad day. But as long as all of these questions remain unanswered and appear to be being swept under the rug, it undermines the confidence and support we should all have for those in law enforcement who put themselves on the line for us every day. We deserve better than that and they do too.
Steve Gill is editor and Publisher of TriStar Daily.
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