Some Metro Police Officers say 'Green Mile' is a Fear Tactic by Chief

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A metro police officer says he's risking his job to speak out against something he believes is just wrong. He's against "the green mile", where decommissioned officers in trouble with department are forced to sit in the lobby of the criminal justice center for 40 hours a week. Since our story first ran, we've received a handful of emails from officers who are against the policy. Police officers are using terms like "bullying", "belittling" and "shaming" to describe the practice. "It's just an intimidation factor to try to get them to quit," said Jack Byrd, an attorney representing at least one of the officers on the green mile. "I know we are all afraid that we are going to be next," said an officer who chose to speak to FOX 17 on the condition of anonymity. Officers on the green mile are sometimes there for months with nothing to do while their cases are being investigated. The Metro Police Department says it's not a punishment but the officer who spoke to us anonymously says he is risking a lot talking to us and says it's not just punishment but intimidation by the chief. "It's almost like you're putting officers there to show the department here is what will happen to you if you get out of line'." "Does it work?" asked Reporter Sabrina Hall. "It does work." "It is nothing more than an intimidation factor. That is what it is," said Byrd. Attorney Jack Byrd represents at least one of the officers sitting on the so-called green mile. He says he's represented others before - some who sat down there for months for minor department violations, waiting to find out if they could keep their jobs, "I have had several clients that were on the mile for quite a while and when disciplinary action was finally resolved they maybe got a few days suspension and then they were put back to work." The president of the Fraternal Order of Police says some decommissioned officers have sat there for a year, getting paid, doing nothing and not yet found guilty of anything. "Most officers want to know one way or the other right away," said the anonymous officer. "They don't want to just be sitting there wondering who is going to decide their fate and when it's going to be decided." "It's almost like the officers are not afforded the due process that the citizens they protect are," said Byrd. The chief says he's opened to hear suggestions on where these decommissioned officers should go. Both the officer and attorney suggest these decommissioned officers answer phones in precincts and use their police knowledge to help the public but the police department says it's not possible because these officers have been stripped of their badges so they aren't allowed in secured police areas or to use police equipment. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WZTV on Facebook:   / foxnashville   WZTV on Twitter:   / foxnashville   Subscribe to WZTV on YouTube:    / @fox17nashville   Daily News Playlist:    • Playlist   For more information, visit https://fox17.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 615.369.1717 Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow. #WZTV #fox17news #foxnashville