Southeast Precinct: police will not assist ICE; residents urged to call for shots-fired incidents

A Southeast Precinct commander and sergeant briefed District 33 residents on enforcement priorities and immigration-related concerns. The precinct said it is shifting some patrol focus from main roads to neighborhood patrols, targeting traffic infractions, panhandling and commercial burglaries.

On concerns about ICE, the commander said Metro "will not assist ICE" and emphasized the department is not a federal agent. "We are not ICE agents. We are not federal authorities," the commander told the meeting, adding that Metro does not receive notice when ICE operates in Davidson County and that officers lack federal authority to detain people for immigration matters. Residents were advised to call 862-8600 for non-emergency concerns and 911 for emergencies.

Residents also described repeated incidents of shots fired from moving vehicles; police said those calls are serious and urged people to report time, location and any identifiers to help investigators. The commander said extra patrols and targeted initiatives will be deployed when the precinct can identify locations and time windows, and advised residents to submit tips to Crime Stoppers or Hub Nashville.

Police outlined community engagement events ("coffee with a cop," internet safety outreach) and asked residents to collect identifying information if they encounter unmarked officers: badge numbers, card numbers or names on vests, and to contact the precinct with the information if an officer refuses to identify.