Nashville Firefighters Quit After Ordering Drinks at Broadway Bar While on Duty
Three officers resigned Wednesday after police reports confirmed they were wearing department gear and carrying radios at a Whiskey Row establishment late Monday night.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Ordinary residents of Nashville must now trust that the department protecting them is enforcing its own conduct rules after three firefighters left their jobs following a late night visit to a busy tourist district. The resignations mark a sudden change in personnel for a unit that has faced scrutiny over internal discipline in recent months.
According to a police report released on November 1, the incident occurred just after midnight on Monday. The three men, identified as Athams Davis, Griffin Hunter, and Daniel Wrenn, were seen by staff at Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row on Broadway. They were wearing Nashville Fire Department T-shirts and carrying bright yellow radios, standard equipment for on-duty personnel. The bartender reported she served the group two vodka-Red Bulls and a water. Although she stated she did not personally watch them consume the alcohol, she provided police with a receipt for the mixed drinks that one of the firefighters signed.
Officers arrived at the bar after the manager called them in response to the bartender's concerns about staff drinking on the clock. When police approached the three men, each stated they were currently on duty. All three denied drinking alcohol inside the establishment. The area's fire commander responded to the scene and immediately placed the officers on administrative duty. The bar manager indicated they were still attempting to secure video footage to provide further context for the events.
The three firefighters were placed on administrative leave immediately after the incident. They formally resigned from the department on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the internal investigation into the matter is still active now that the employees have left their positions.
The Nashville Fire Department kept its public comments brief. A spokesperson acknowledged the department was aware of an incident involving three employees but declined to release details, names, or positions, citing the matter as a personnel issue. The department did not provide a copy of its employee rules and regulations regarding firefighter conduct despite requests from media outlets. In a written statement, the department asserted that it holds all personnel to high standards of professionalism and conduct, noting that actions compromising those standards are taken seriously.
Mayor Freddie O'Connell is pushing for greater accountability following the bar visit. The incident occurred only months after another firefighter was found unresponsive at his station with drug paraphernalia, an event that led to a death ruled as cocaine toxicity in an autopsy report. O'Connell said he spoke with Fire Chief William Swann to ensure the public knows that drinking or using drugs on the job is not acceptable for Metro employees. The mayor stated he is looking for assurance that the department is conducting appropriate retraining to keep all personnel prepared.
O'Connell is also coordinating with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 140. The union has said it does not have a comment on the specific incident at this time. The mayor noted that early indications suggest the union wants to ensure the successful department retains the confidence of Nashvillians. He stated that he and the union are holding ongoing conversations and are looking to department leadership for signs that the public can continue to trust the fire department's operations.
