In October, a body‑camera clip from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) caught a heated confrontation between one of its plain‑clothes officers and a Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) trooper who was escorting State House Speaker Cameron Sexton.
According to the footage, the trooper was driving a black SUV carrying the speaker. The vehicle’s blue emergency lights were on, a clear sign that it was part of a protection detail. A plain‑clothes MNPD officer stopped beside the SUV and shouted for the driver to pull over, citing a speed‑limit violation—reportedly 85 mph in a 55 mph zone.
The SUV eventually pulled to the side of the road. The trooper stepped out, approached the MNPD officer, and announced, “I’m Highway Patrol!” The officer pushed him back and said, “I don’t care who you are!” The trooper replied, “Get your freakin’ hands off me,” and the officer warned, “If you touch me again, I’m going to lock you up, my friend.”
The trooper then showed his badge and explained that he was escorting Speaker Sexton. “I’ve got the Tennessee House Speaker in the car, and we’re moving,” he said. The MNPD officer demanded to see identification, prompting the trooper to point out his blue lights and provide his badge number. The officer responded, “If you’re going to run 85 mph in a 55 mph zone, you need to yield to police. I don’t care who you think you are.” The trooper countered, “I am the police!”
When the trooper stepped back out of the SUV, the officer shoved him again, adding, “We’re going to see about that, my friend.” The exchange ended with the two officers parting ways.
Shortly afterward, Speaker Sexton’s chief of staff, Kevin Johnson, filed a citizen complaint with the department. An MNPD spokesperson later described the officer’s handling of the situation as “overzealous” and said the incident “jeopardized the safety of the Speaker and the THP trooper.”
Sexton’s office released a statement to WKRN noting, “There was no violation of traffic laws by the THP officer pursuant to state law. In today’s climate of political violence, the job of executive protection is more difficult than ever.” They added that the trooper had repeatedly identified himself and shown his badge but was physically confronted twice and remained restrained throughout.
An internal MNPD investigation cleared the officer, finding that his conduct was reasonable and consistent with department policy. The THP later issued a statement affirming its continued collaborative relationship with the MNPD, emphasizing mutual respect and shared professionalism in safeguarding Tennessee residents.
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