Metro Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee calls special meeting to address domestic violence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After several high-profile cases made headlines, Metro leaders have taken a stronger stance against domestic violence.

In a special-called meeting on Wednesday, Metro Council members discussed ways to better keep tabs on violent offenders. Emily Bradley’s loved ones have refused to let her bright light dim. Mina Rightmyer was her best friend.

“Could the police’ve acted a little faster? Absolutely,” Rightmyer told News 2. “Could we have prevented what happened to Emily? Well, I think we all blame ourselves, in some ways.”

Investigators found Bradley’s body in Whites Creek. They arrested her ex-boyfriend, Miles Williams, six months later. That was a long time for her family.

“She was stabbed in the back — if that tells you anything,” Rightmyer added. “The first abuse was in her sleep, so to me, that’s a coward.”

It’s something that the Metro Public Health and Safety Committee has hoped to change. They’re wanting more checks and balances on offenders, including making sure they’re following their bond or parole requirements.

“That is what you need to do with people that abuse other people and assert power in control. They think they’re in control of everything,” Metro’s Office of Family Safety director, Diane Lance, said. “They’re in control of their victim and they’re feeling, I’m sure, like they’re in control of our whole system. That needs to stop.”

The committee said that another break in the system is in the case of Lauren Johansen . Metro police said that her ex-boyfriend, Bricen Rivers , went to jail for beating her . Seven months later, he got out on a lowered bond and without a working ankle monitor, then crossed state lines and allegedly killed her.

“Why were we even having a bond hearing in seven months? Why wasn’t he already tried and found guilty?” Lance added. “There would not have been an opportunity to reduce that bond and none of this would have happened.”

These are questions the committee is bringing to the state level. Wednesday night’s meeting was just one of a series of several aimed at bringing awareness to domestic violence. For Emily’s friend, Mina, she says sharing her story could mean saving a life.

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