Nashville: Sheriff Rolls Out Mobile Booking Unit
December 17th, 2010Via: WSNV:
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has a new mobile booking unit. It’s a bus bought and outfitted with a $300,000 grant from the state to help police officers get back on the street more quickly after an arrest.
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But there’s a missing step that’s causing some concern: the officer never appears before the commissioner.
Attorney David Raybin said the officer’s sworn statement before the commissioner is a crucial step that can’t be cut out.
“It’s unconstitutional. It’s illegal. The warrant is worthless if you do that,” Raybin said. “The felony bus makes a lot of sense, but it’s a step backward if they are going to cut out the constitutional requirements.”
Hall said he’s gotten a legal opinion that it’s OK for a sheriff’s department employee to present the officer’s case.
“The question becomes, who appears before the commissioner? We agree that someone has to. Who has to be that person?” Hall said.
The sheriff said the process may need some tweaking.
