Three Nashville Firefighters Quit After Bar Incident on Broadway
The trio resigned Wednesday after ordering mixed drinks while on duty at a popular venue.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Three members of the Nashville Fire Department resigned on Wednesday following an incident in which they were observed drinking at a bar while on active duty. The departures ended a brief internal investigation that began after a police report detailed the events of a Monday night visit to a Broadway establishment.
According to the police report, officers responded to the Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row just after midnight on Monday. The bar manager had called after a bartender reported concerns about the group. The report identifies the firefighters as Athams Davis, Griffin Hunter, and Daniel Wrenn. At the time, the three men were wearing department T-shirts and carrying bright yellow radios, police stated.
When officers arrived, the firefighters told them they were on duty but denied consuming alcohol inside the venue. However, the bartender who served the group told police they ordered two vodka-Red Bulls and a water. Although the bartender said she did not personally see the men drink the alcoholic beverages, she provided a receipt signed by one of the firefighters for the mixed drinks.
The area’s fire commander arrived at the scene and immediately placed the three men on administrative duty. They remained on administrative leave until their resignation on Wednesday. It is not yet clear if the internal investigation into the incident will continue now that the employees have left.
The Nashville Fire Department released a brief statement acknowledging the incident. A spokesperson declined to share details or the specific positions of the resigned firefighters, citing personnel rules. The department also did not provide a copy of its employee conduct regulations after a request for the document.
“The Nashville Fire Department holds all personnel to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and conduct,” the department said in a statement. “Actions that compromise those standards are taken seriously and addressed accordingly.”
Mayor Freddie O’Connell is pushing for further accountability in the wake of the incident. He noted that this event follows the death of a firefighter a few months ago, an autopsy report of which cited cocaine toxicity. O’Connell spoke with Fire Chief William Swann and said he is seeking assurance that the department is providing adequate retraining. He is also working with the IAFF Local 140 union, which has declined to comment on the specific incident.
