Nashville Fire: Three officers resign after bar incident

Three Nashville firefighters resigned from the department after a police report confirmed they were present at a Broadway bar during a shift. The resignations followed an internal investigation triggered by a bartender who reported the officers were drinking alcohol while on duty.

The incident occurred just after midnight on Monday night at Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row. Officers responded to a call from the manager, who relayed concerns from the bartender that three men in fire department T-shirts and carrying yellow radios were consuming drinks. The police report identified the men as Athams Davis, Griffin Hunter, and Daniel Wrenn.

During the interview at the scene, all three officers told police they were on duty. They denied drinking alcohol inside the establishment. However, the bartender stated that she served them two vodka-Red Bulls and a water. Although she did not personally observe them consuming the drinks, she provided officers with a receipt signed by one of the firefighters for the mixed beverages.

A fire commander was notified and arrived at the bar shortly after. He placed the three officers on administrative duty on the spot. They remained on administrative leave until Wednesday, when they all submitted their resignations. It is unclear if the department's internal probe remains active following their departures.

The Nashville Fire Department acknowledged the incident in a statement, noting that it is aware of the situation involving three employees. The department declined to release the names or positions of the involved personnel, citing personnel matter protocols. A spokesperson did not respond to requests for the specific employee rules regarding firefighter conduct.

“The Nashville Fire Department holds all personnel to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and conduct,” the department said. “Actions that compromise those standards are taken seriously and addressed accordingly.”

Mayor Freddie O’Connell called for accountability after speaking with Fire Chief William Swann. The mayor emphasized the need for retraining updates to ensure all personnel meet departmental standards. He noted that the city is working with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140 to maintain public confidence. The union stated it had no comment on the specific incident at this time.

This event follows a previous incident where a firefighter was found unresponsive at his station with drug paraphernalia. An autopsy report attributed his death to cocaine toxicity. O’Connell said he is seeking assurance that leadership is providing clear signs of ongoing confidence to the public.