Sen. Kelsey: Let TBI probe police
Joins Rep. Hardaway’s bid for openness
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.