Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police says Metro officer acted lawfully when stopping THP trooper

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A routine traffic stop in Nashville became a test of authority after a Metro police officer attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper.

Newly released body camera video shows the Metro officer initiating the stop after clocking a black SUV traveling 85 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. Police records indicate the officer followed the vehicle for several miles before it came to a stop.

When the driver exited the SUV, he identified himself as a state trooper. The exchange that followed quickly escalated with both officers asserting authority and disrupting the circumstances of the stop.

The Metro police officer demanded identification and told the trooper he was not free to leave. The trooper responded that he was “the police” and suggested they were preparing to move on.

The trooper later said he had blue lights activated, indicating they were responding to other business.

The Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police said that flashing blue lights alone do not override a lawful traffic stop.

“He was doing his job,” Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police President Scottie Delashmit said. “The officer was trying to ensure there was no threat to the public.”

The incident drew heightened attention after it was confirmed that Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

In a statement to News 2, Sexton criticized the Metro police officer’s conduct, describing it as overzealous and unsafe. He said he does not believe the state trooper violated traffic laws.

“Any vehicle traveling above a posted speed limit should have emergency lights and sirens operating under Tennessee state law,” DeLashmit said. “Otherwise, you are to adhere to the same traffic laws anyone else does.”

Delashmit said incidents like this highlight the need for clear communication and de-escalation, particularly when multiple law enforcement agencies are involved.

“This is an unfortunate situation that could have been avoided if there had been clearer communication and immediate compliance,” he said.

Following the incident, the Metro Nashville Police Department opened an internal investigation after concerns were raised by the House Speaker’s chief of staff. The review examined whether the Metro police officer violated department policy.

According to MNPD records, the traffic stop was lawful, and the officer acted within policy. Allegations of misconduct were either exonerated or found to be unfounded.