Police Chief Serpas backs anonymous complaints against officers

March 17, 2009 Tennessean DAVIDSON COUNTY Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas is speaking out against a legislative proposal to do away with anonymous complaints against law enforcement officers. Serpas says the proposal sponsored by Rep. Eric Watson, a Cleveland Republican who is also a Bradley County sheriff's deputy, would have a chilling effect on people who want to file complaints. As introduced, the bill would require all complaints to be made in writing before an investigation could be launched. The targets of investigations would be given a signed copy of the complaints within five days. Watson says that he is still fine-tuning the bill and that the final version will be based on what is already the law in states such as Florida and Texas. The bill is scheduled to be heard in a House subcommittee next week.