Nashville Firefighters Quit After Bar Incident

Three Nashville firefighters resigned on Wednesday, ending their service with the department just days after an incident at a downtown bar. The departures follow a police report detailing their presence at Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row around midnight on Monday. The men were identified in the report as Athams Davis, Griffin Hunter, and Daniel Wrenn.

The police report states that a bartender alerted the manager because she was concerned the three men were consuming alcohol while on duty. Officers who responded to the scene found the firefighters wearing Nashville Fire Department T-shirts and carrying bright yellow radios. When questioned, all three men told officers they were on duty. However, each denied drinking alcohol inside the establishment.

Bar staff provided further details to investigators. A bartender who served the group stated that the men ordered two vodka-Red Bulls and a water just after midnight. Although she did not personally see them drink the alcoholic beverages, she provided police with a receipt for the mixed drinks that was signed by one of the firefighters. The bar manager is currently working to retrieve video footage that may offer additional context.

Upon receiving notification from police, the area fire commander arrived at the scene and placed the three men on administrative duty. They were subsequently placed on administrative leave before submitting their resignations on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the internal investigation into the incident will continue now that the employees have left.

The Nashville Fire Department acknowledged the incident in a brief statement but declined to release specific details or the names of the involved personnel. The department cited the matter as a personnel issue. A spokesperson did not respond to requests for a copy of the employee rules and regulations governing firefighter conduct. The department stated that it holds all personnel to high standards of professionalism and that actions compromising those standards are addressed seriously.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has called for accountability regarding the incident. He noted that this event occurred months after another firefighter was found unresponsive at a station with drug paraphernalia. An autopsy report later determined that man died from cocaine toxicity. O’Connell said he spoke with Chief William Swann to ensure the city’s message is clear: drinking or using drugs on the job is not acceptable for Metro employees.

O’Connell described the fire department’s approach as a zero-tolerance policy. He said he is seeking assurance that the department is conducting the appropriate retraining updates to keep all personnel aligned with those standards. The mayor is also working with the firefighter union, IAFF Local 140, to address accountability. The union stated it has no comment on the incident at this time. O’Connell said he expects department leadership to provide the public with signs of ongoing confidence in the team.