CRB flags high‑speed MNPD driving; officer accepted written reprimand in pre‑investigative settlement

The Nashville Community Review Board reviewed CC2025014, which alleges that an MNPD officer, Ruben Mariano, drove at high speeds — up to 93 mph — during a commute that crossed into Kentucky. Trackstar GPS and a dash‑cam review documented the speeds; the officer entered a pre‑investigative settlement and accepted a category‑E written reprimand for speeding. NCRB members said the recorded speeds and lane changes were dangerous and argued that, when officer conduct creates a risk to public safety at highway speeds, discipline should reflect the potential seriousness of the conduct. Board members noted that a pre‑investigative settlement results in a written reprimand that, in practice, can be less consequential than a formal reckless‑driving charge available under state law. Why it matters: The board said similar past cases of out‑of‑county high‑speed travel produced written reprimands via pre‑investigative settlements, raising questions about consistency and whether serial infractions escalate disciplinary categories. MNPD representatives described the department’s disciplinary grid and retention periods, and said repeat or subsequent offenses within retention windows can increase category and penalties. Board action: The NCRB report was accepted. The assistant director and executive director conferred, and the board voted to forward the accepted report to the chief and the mayor. Members asked MNPD to consider whether conduct that endangers lives should be charged as reckless driving rather than a lesser speeding category in future similar cases.