Mayor John Cooper calls for independent investigation into series of allegations against Nashville police department

Nashville Mayor John Cooper is asking the District Attorney and Metro Human Resources to do an independent investigation into the series of sexual harassment and discrimination allegations brought against the Nashville Police Department last week.

In a Twitter post Monday, Cooper said he's forwarded each "criminal and civil allegation of misconduct" brought forth by 19 former and current employees of a toxic culture inside the police department, for review. 

"I hope this process gains the confidence of those alleging misconduct and encourages them to share more information so an independent review comes to a just conclusion," he said in a statement. 

The move by the mayor comes after remarks he made Saturday, that he had ""not really read anything about it," when asked to comment on the allegations during a community Zoom call. 

While saying he wasn't informed really about the allegations, Cooper said "not everything is true." 

His previous statements were alarming, Greta McClain, founder of Silent No Longer, a survivors organization, told The Tennessean Saturday. The group has led efforts investigating the department and went public with allegations of the culture inside the Nashville police department last week.  

McClain said she had reached out repeatedly to the mayor's office since mid-April and to the police department and was largely ignored. The Nashville Scene first reported the allegations. 

"That should be very concerning not only to me but everybody in Nashville. I would think something like this should be brought to his attention," McClain said, also questioning how Cooper could say not everything was true if he hadn't read the allegations.

Cooper said he spoke to McClain on Monday and that he has read through the documents, adding he finds the allegations "deeply concerning." 

The decision to call for an independent investigation is a reversal from remarks he made Saturday, saying he was grateful for the internal process at the police department, as well as Metro's Community Oversight Board, to look into the issues. 

McClain told The Tennessean that the police department's internal process that Cooper noted, is the very same internal mechanisms the victims and Silent No Longer don't trust. 

Some of the alleged victims, she said, have come forward and file complaints but have either not seen resolutions, or were largely dismissed or retaliated against. 

"That's why they are afraid of the process. I honestly can't say I blame them," McClain said Saturday. 

Yihyun Jeong covers politics in Nashville for USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE. Reach her at yjeong@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @yihyun_jeong.