Nashville mayor routinely traveled without security before affair, records show

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Full interview with Police Chief Steve Anderson over the news of Megan Barry
Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

NASHVILLE — Despite previous statements from Mayor Megan Barry about needing to travel with a police officer for safety, records released Monday show the mayor routinely went on trips without security from her inauguration in September 2015 to June 2016.

Last week, Barry acknowledged the affair with Sgt. Rob Forrest, a police officer and head of her security detail. She said the affair began in the spring of 2016 and the affair is over, although she would not say when it ended. 

Forrest, who formally retired Jan. 31, traveled with Barry on out-of-town trips beginning in June 2016, including nine trips in 2017 during which he was the only city employee to accompany the mayor. 

More: Nashville mayor backed daughter of affair partner for city job

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In her first nine months in office, Barry, a Democrat, took nine out-of-town business trips, according to travel records. On six trips she went by herself or with other city employees who were not police officers.

On three trips during that time period she traveled with other city employees and security, twice with Forrest. The first travel with only Barry and Forrest was a Chattanooga trip from June 30 to July 1, 2016.

In a statement Monday evening, Barry’s spokesman explained the change in security traveling with the mayor. 

“This was based on the recommendations of the police department that Mayor Barry have police detail on all official business trips, increases in terrorist attacks and mass shootings both domestic and international, and because we had an opportunity to learn what worked best in terms of logistics for travel,” Barry spokesman Sean Braisted said in a statement released with the travel records. 

The day she admitted to the affair, Barry said, “when I came into office, (Police Chief Steve Anderson) said that you are always the mayor and you should be secured appropriately.” 

Last week, Anderson said the affair was “improper,” but he did not see any immediate violations of department policy. `

Police spokesman Don Aaron said Anderson believes the mayor needs security but added that the chief never spoke with Barry about having security on specific trips.

“We are prepared with contingency plans in place for a variety of scenarios that may occur at any time,” police spokeswoman Kris Mumford said. 

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Full event of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry addressing the media
Michael Schwab

“Events/persons of concern are monitored/evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure the mayor’s safety in these challenging times.” 

Nashville police have no records of investigations into any security threats against a city mayor in at least 19 years. 

“We do not have a record of investigations into specific security threats for this administration or the previous two. Any issues that may have occurred in the field were handled in the field,” Mumford said in an email. 

Previously: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry admits to extramarital relationship with top police security officer

More: Nashville mayor opens up about son’s drug use, death in return to work

Late Monday, Braisted said he did not know when the conversation with Anderson referenced by Barry occurred. Braisted provided no new details when asked about the police department’s statement that there were no investigations of any security threats against the mayor. 

Aaron also said, “the MNPD has not received any communication from U.S. Homeland Security, the FBI, etc., concerning mayoral security outside of Nashville.” 

The lack of previous police investigations and security incidents could be an issue in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation inquiry into whether Barry or Forrest misappropriated public funds or engaged in official misconduct. 

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A specific, known security threat would bolster the necessity of Barry taking security on out-of-town trips. 

Karl Dean, mayor from 2007 to 2015, and Bill Purcell, mayor from 1999 to 2007, did not travel with a security detail on trips that required a flight. 

The mayor of Charlotte, N.C., does not travel with security but the mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, does. Both mayors are women and lead cities roughly the same size as Nashville. 

Female mayors of three other cities smaller than Nashville said they never or rarely travel with security. 

Barry and Forrest flew in 2017 to Kansas City, San Francisco and Athens, Greece, for conferences and other events.

The city said Monday that Barry and Forrest remained a total of four extra days in those cities combined. Taxpayer money paid for Forrest’s room for the four additional nights when the mayor had no events on her schedule. 

Follow Dave Boucher on Twitter: @Dave_Boucher1

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