2 in Tennessee law enforcement tapped for presidential panel

Published 9:38 am Monday, January 27, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — Attorney General William Barr has tapped two Tennesseans to join a new presidential panel on law enforcement.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release Wednesday, David Rausch and James Smallwood will be on the 18-member Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.

Rausch is the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Smallwood is the president of the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police and a sergeant with the Nashville police force.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in October authorizing the commission, which will hold hearings, panel presentations, field visits, and other public meetings.

The panel will look into a variety of issues, including mental illness, homelessness and substance abuse; recruitment, hiring training and retention of officers; refusals by state and local prosecutors to enforce laws or prosecute certain crimes; promotion of public confidence and respect for officers and the law; and technological innovations.

The commission will meet monthly for the next year and report findings that will be submitted to Trump.