June 2020 Brentwood Update – focus on Law Enforcement
I hope this finds you, your family and friends all safe and healthy, and I would like to wish everyone a happy and blessed Independence Day.
Our challenging times continue. To my knowledge, we have not had a medical breakthrough yet regarding COVID-19, but our community continues to follow the lead of Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Health and work towards opening our economy. For many, this is welcome relief, but I know it is a source of anxiety for others.
In addition, law-enforcement policy and practices are under examination nationally, and that naturally leads to questions about our local policies and practices.
While all this is going on, The City of Brentwood has lost a police officer in the line of duty for the first time with the heartbreaking death of Officer Destin Legieza.
I’m not going to try to solve these issues here, but I would like to share the resources I have.
As always, your perspective and comments are very important to me, and I want to encourage you to contact me at either Nelson.Andrews@BrentwoodTN.gov if it’s not “on fire” and 615-917-1384 (voice or text) if it is.
News :
Officer Destin Legieza was tragically lost in a vehicle collision June 18, 2020
- Officer Legieza was travelling south on Franklin Road early Thursday morning. His vehicle was struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle that crossed over into his lane. He suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash.
- Officer Legieza, 30, was hired by the Brentwood Police Department 2015 and assigned to the midnight shift. He was born and raised in Franklin, where he attended Franklin High School. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, where he obtained a degree in criminal justice administration. Officer Legieza and his wife have a home in Spring Hill.
- More detail can be found on the City of Brentwood Website here.
- A memorial fund has been established. Anyone who would like to make a monetary donation to Officer Legieza’s family can use either the GofundMe page set up for his wife Heather or a memorial fund set up in his name at First Horizon Bank.
- Thank you to the many who have dropped off an abundance of delicious food for our officers. Please email Lisa McDowell at lisa.mcdowell@brentwoodtn.gov to coordinate any future deliveries. The kindness and support of our community has been overwhelming and is appreciated.
- I would like to express my heartfelt condolences and appreciation to the Legieza family for the difference Destin Legieza made during his all-too brief life.
Brentwood Police Department’s Tommy Walsh Retires After 31 Years of Service
- Assistant Chief Tommy Walsh, of the Brentwood Police Department officially retired from our department on Friday, June 26, 2020 after a 31-year-career with Brentwood.
- Walsh began his career in 1988 as a Brentwood Police Patrol Officer and has served in many different capacities within the department including:
- Field Training Officer
- Crime Scene Technician
- Detective
- May 6, 2002, Walsh was wounded in a shootout in Brentwood. You can find the full story on Brentwood Home Page and Walsh’s reflections on YouTube.
- On January 30th, 2012 he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police, which is the role he held until retirement.
- Assistant Police Chief Walsh is a cherished member of our community, and I want to wish him the best for his retirement.
Splash Pad opening this summer at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex in Brentwood
- The outdoor splash pad is set to open this summer
- Other improvements to the facility include:
- A new fitness studio with cycle, rowing, and TRX suspension equipment
- Additional weighted bars, kettlebells, dumbbells, and instructional classes
- Outdoor pickleball courts
- You can find more information here.
- The City of Brentwood has up-to-date information posted here.
- Infoworks does a COVID-19 “Daily Dashboard” that you can find here. I’ve found it to be an excellent comprehensive resource that is easy to understand.
- The Williamson County Office of Public Safety publishes their information here , along with best-practices and links to other resources. If you want Williamson County to send you updates, text the keyword WCCOVID to 888-777.
- If you would like a very comprehensive list of links RE: COVID-19, you can visit the Tennessee Municipal League resource page here.
- The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a Covid-19 page with their latest findings here.
- FEMA has published a “Coronavirus Rumor Control” page here. It is an excellent antidote to a lot of misinformation floating around.
- In spite of all the disruption, the US Census is still going on, and it is very important everyone in our community is counted. In a growing community like ours, accurate data is critical to our state and Federal funding.
- If you are as into it as I am, you will love this site with response rates by community.
- Granny White’s paving and re-striping has started.
- Parks and playgrounds are continuing to reopen.
- Brentwood traffic stop of a black man turns into a community conversation on race – story and video of the stop are found on the Tennessean (subscription might be required).
While we are starting to move back towards in-person meetings, the City of Brentwood is still working to minimize opportunities for the transmittal of COVID-19. City of Brentwood is continuing to follow the guidance set by the health department at Williamson County and State of Tennessee.
- The City of Brentwood TN homepage will have updates.
- You can find the City Commission upcoming meetings here.
- We are posting updates on status and format of meetings on our public calendar.
- Chokehold & Strangleholds : Chokeholds are prohibited by Tennessee state law except when the use of deadly force is justified. The Brentwood Police Department follows state law.( General Order #4-3 Use of Force/Use of Less Lethal Weapons ).
- De-Escalation : All Brentwood Officers are trained in de-escalation techniques. The Brentwood Police Department trains on crisis intervention and de-escalation communication practices in concert with a non-deadly force philosophy in dealing with potentially violent confrontations. Brentwood Police Department policy requires officers to only use the amount of force necessary when accomplishing lawful objections such as making an arrest, controlling a situation, or protecting citizens or themselves.( General Order #4-3 Use of Force/Use of Less Lethal Weapons , General Order #4-3A Conducted Electrical Weapons , & General Order #4-5 Use of Firearms/Deadly Force ).
- Issue Warning Before Shooting : When feasible, Brentwood Police Officers are required to identify themselves as police and provide a warning that deadly force will be used. ( General Order #4-5 Use of Firearms/Deadly Force ).
- Exhaust All Alternatives Before Shooting : It is the policy of the Brentwood Police Department that officers exhaust all reasonable means before resorting to the use of deadly force. Officers will employ only the degree of force necessary and reasonable to accomplish lawful objectives. In determining which force option is necessary, officers will consider the seriousness of the offense, the immediate threat to the public, the suspect, or the officer.( General Order #4-3 Use of Force/Use of Less Lethal Weapons , General Order #4-5 Use of Firearms/Deadly Force , & General Order #7-3 Rules and Regulations ).
- Duty to Intervene: The Brentwood Police Department requires all officers who view excessive force or other injustices to intervene and report their observations to their supervisor immediately. ( General Order #7-3 Rules and Regulations #55 and #57 ).
- Shooting at Moving Vehicles : The Brentwood Police Department policy permits shooting at moving vehicles when the use of deadly force is justified. The use of deadly force is a last resort. Firing at a vehicle may be necessary to protect the public from harm, for example, at a large crowded event. ( General Order #4-5 Use of Firearms/Deadly Force )
- Use of Force Continuum : The Brentwood Police Department policy specifies force options and requires officers to use only the segree of force necessary in order to accomplish lawful objectives.( General Order #4-3 Use of Force/Use of Less Lethal Weapons )
- Comprehensive Reporting : The Brentwood Police Department requires officers to document incidents involving use of force and be reviewed by supervisors. Each year, the department also analyzes incidents involving all use of force, policies, and practices. ( General Order #4-3 Use of Force/Use of Less Lethal Weapons , General Order #4-3A Conducted Electrical Weapons , & General Order #4-5 Use of Firearms/Deadly Force )
”The Brentwood Police Department consists of compassionate men and women committed to treating every person they encounter with respect. With servant hearts, we strive to make Brentwood a safe and desirable place to live, work and raise your family.”
People have questions about how much we spend on our Brentwood Police. This graphic is a breakdown of how City of Brentwood spends its General Fund, which does not include the Water and Sewer department:
Resources:
- Full City of Brentwood Calendar
- Interactive City of Brentwood Maps , including zoning, parks, utility district, land records, and Historic Places
- City of Brentwood Commission Home page , including contact information, meeting schedule, and videos of past meetings
- City of Brentwood Planning Commission Home page , including contact information, meeting schedule, and videos of past meetings:
- City of Brentwood Water and Sewer Master Plan and other information
- Full contact information for your Federal, State, County, and local elected officials
- Complete list and links to download Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports for the City of Brentwood back to 2005
Nelson
Nelson Andrews
Brentwood City Commissioner
“From Brentwood, For Brentwood”
615-917-1384
Nelson.Andrews@Brentwood-TN.org
