Three Nashville Firefighters Resign After Bar Incident on Broadway

Three firefighters with the Nashville Fire Department resigned on Wednesday following a police report that documented them ordering mixed drinks at a Broadway bar while on duty. The incident occurred around midnight on Monday at Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row.

The men identified in the report are Athams Davis, Griffin Hunter, and Daniel Wrenn. Police stated that the three were wearing Nashville Fire Department T-shirts and carrying bright yellow radios when staff at the bar noticed them.

A bartender called police after the manager of the establishment reported concerns that the group was drinking alcohol during their shift. The bartender told officers that the men ordered two vodka-Red Bulls and a water shortly after midnight. Although the bartender said she did not personally watch them drink the alcohol, she provided a receipt signed by one of the firefighters for the mixed drinks.

When officers approached the group, the three men said they were on duty but denied drinking inside the bar. Staff continued to speak with police about the visit. The fire commander for the area arrived at the scene after police notified him and placed the three firefighters on administrative duty immediately.

The three men were placed on administrative leave before submitting their resignations on Wednesday. It is not clear if the department’s internal investigation remains active after the departures. The Nashville Fire Department stated it is aware of an incident involving three employees but declined to release details, names, or positions because it is a personnel matter.

A department spokesperson did not respond to requests for a copy of the employee rules and regulations regarding firefighter conduct. In a written statement, the department said it holds all personnel to high standards of professionalism and accountability. It added that actions compromising those standards are taken seriously and addressed accordingly.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell said he spoke with Fire Chief William Swann about the incident. O’Connell said he is working to ensure Metro employees understand that drinking or using drugs on the job is not acceptable. He noted that the fire department has shown a zero-tolerance approach and is delivering internal accountability.

O’Connell said he is also looking for assurance that the department is providing the right amount of retraining updates for all personnel. He said he is working with the firefighter union, IAFF Local 140, to hold people accountable. The union said it has no comment on the incident at this time.

The Broadway incident comes months after a firefighter was found unresponsive at his station with drug paraphernalia. An autopsy report determined he died from cocaine toxicity. O’Connell said he is looking to department leadership to provide signs that the public can maintain confidence in the fire department.

The bar’s manager said staff were working to obtain video footage from the location to provide additional context regarding the night’s events.