Metro Nashville Police Rename ‘Use of Force’ to ‘Response to Resistance,’ Drawing Scrutiny
Metro Nashville Police have replaced the term "use of force" with "response to resistance" in their official language. This change has led to pushback from the Community Review Board, whose members suggest the new terminology implies civilian fault and may…
Nashville, TN, September 29, 2026 —
Metro Nashville Police have officially altered their internal language, substituting the term “use of force” with “response to resistance” in official communications and documentation. This linguistic shift has prompted criticism and pushback from the Community Review Board, a body tasked with overseeing police conduct.
Members of the Community Review Board have voiced concerns that the new phrasing, “response to resistance,” may inadvertently shift blame towards civilians. They suggest the terminology could imply that any action taken by an officer is a direct reaction to an individual’s behavior, potentially obscuring instances where officers might initiate actions without provocation.
The board’s apprehension extends to whether the revised term adequately covers all scenarios, particularly those involving unprovoked or unwarranted actions by law enforcement.
In response to these concerns, the Community Review Board has formally recommended that the Metro Nashville Police Department hold a public press conference. The objective of such a conference would be to clearly explain the rationale behind the change in terminology and to address public questions and concerns. However, as of the latest information, no press conference has been scheduled by the department. The specific date for the implementation of the new terminology or further details on its application were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Li Cohen on www.wsmv.com, see more information here.
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