The Commercial Appeal

Sen. Kelsey: Let TBI probe police

Joins Rep. Hardaway’s bid for openness

- By Kyle Veazey veazey@commercial­appeal.com 901-529-2799

State Sen. Brian Kelsey said Saturday he would join state Rep. G.A. Hardaway’s legislativ­e effort to require the Tennessee Bureau of Investigat­ion to conduct investigat­ions when someone is critically injured or killed in an incident involving a law enforcemen­t officer.

In an e-mail to constituen­ts, Kelsey, R-Germantown, said the bill would “allow” disclosure of the results of the TBI investigat­ions.

Those files are sealed, which has led to criticism on transparen­cy grounds.

Hardaway, Hardaway, DMemphis, DMemphis, said Saturday there must be transparen­cy and the public should be able to view the results of the investigat­ions to ensure justice.

“It’s pretty simple,” Hardaway said.

“When you talk about democracy, the key is oversight by the people.”

Hardaway said TBI is an “objective organizati­on, that is apolitical.”

“They would deliver the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” he said.

TBI Director Mark Gwyn told The Commercial Appeal last month he would support “a mechanism (in the legislatio­n) that those files can be opened.” The bill won’t be debated until at least January, when the General Assembly convenes again.

“The recent shooting death of Darrius Stewart by a Memphis police officer has brought the national debate about the reliabilit­y of investigat­ing officer-involved deaths close to home,” Kelsey wrote.

 ??  ?? Sen. Brian Kelsey
Sen. Brian Kelsey

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