MNPD: Sergeant Saw 'Let Us Worship' Nashville Event, Didn't Notify Command

A Metro Nashville Police Department sergeant reportedly observed a large event while on-duty and didn't notify command staff, which led to a lack of response from the department.

Interim Metro Police Chief John Drake confirmed an on-duty sergeant didn't inform the department of the "Let Us Worship" event in front of the Metro Courthouse on Sunday during a press conference Thursday, FOX 17 News reports. Drake said, in hindsight, command staff should have been notified and Metro officers would have then issued mask citations, warnings and asked attendees to social distance.

“I’m very disappointed in the organizer and the people at Sunday’s event for not prioritizing their public health," Drake said.

Drake said the on-duty sergeant instead drove by the event and observed that it wasn't pouring out into the streets, which led to the decision not to contact command staff.

Metro Dispatch has released several calls received from individuals concerned about the large event, which is currently being investigated by the Metro Nashville Police Department.

On Sunday, a video posted by Sean Feuct showed a large crowd gathered outside the Metro Courthouse with a caption by Feuct claiming a police officer who escorted him estimated "9,000-10,000 worshippers" were in attendance during the "Let Us Worship" event.

WKRN has obtained dispatch calls made on Sunday after individuals near the Metro Courthouse observed the large gathering.

“They’re having some type of event in the square of the courthouse and there, like, is no one wearing masks. I got in the parking garage so I paid for it. There’s people getting on the elevators without masks with me. I was hoping you could send someone down there to do a little bit of mask enforcement cause there’s no social distancing,” said one caller. “They’re like all getting on elevators – tons of people. And no one’s wearing a mask.”

Feuct claimed on social media that the event was "officially a protest, so it's legal," however, the Metro Nashville Health Department said he did not submit an application or a permit application to any Metro department before it was held, WKRN reports.

Metro Health spokesman Brian Todd confirmed the investigation into the "Let Us Worship" event in an email to FOX 17 News on Monday.

"We have worked very hard to slow the spread of COVID by taking a measured approach to protect the community," Todd said in an email. "The Health Department is very concerned by the actions that took place at the event and we are investigating and will pursue appropriate penalties against the organizer."

Metro Nashville transitioned back into Phase 3 of its reopening plan last month, which allows venues to hold events with a 30% capacity or 500 people with required approval from the city, otherwise attendance is limited to 25 individuals.

Davidson County initially transitioned into Phase 3 of its reopening plan on June 22, which was set to remain in tact for at least 28 days before reverting back into a modified Phase 2 on July 3, FOX 17 News reports.

On Wednesday, the Metro Nashville Health Department reported 30,957 total cases of COVID-19, which included 128 new cases in a 24-hour span and 1,514 active cases in Davidson County.

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