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Family of Daniel Hambrick who was fatally shot by a white Nashville metro police officer is suing the city for $30 million according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Monday. The suit blames the Nashville police for the death, alleging the police department is racially biased.

Last July officer Andrew Delke shot and killed Hambrick as he ran from the officer. One of the two attorneys representing the family, Joy Kimbrough says this lawsuit is because it isn’t just about the officer who shot Hambrick it’s about the entire department.

“To put it in a nutshell, Metro is responsible for Delke,” Kimbrough said. “We think this is beyond misconduct.”

Kimbrough adds that the $30 million is only for punitive damages. “We’re also asking for additional damages. We’re asking for nominal damages, compensatory damages, attorney fees and costs. We’re asking for $30 million at a minimum.”

In the over 34-page filing, Kimbrough and the other attorney on the case, Kyle Mothershead have claimed the Nashville police department and Delke include excessive force, wrongful death and a pattern of racial discrimination.

The suit cites the department’s use of a controversial textbook, titled The Tactical Edge. The book says minorities are disproportionately associated with criminal violence and tells officers that most police training will always fall short of what is needed to stay alive on the job according to Nashville Public Radio.

The book was removed from the police academy’s curriculum after a WPLN report in 2017. However, it was still being used when Delke went through training. The lawsuit alleges Delke read his copy of The Tactical Edge and “internalized the beliefs articulated therein.”

To support its allegations of racial bias, the suit alleges the racial profiling in traffic stops and roadside searches. Also alleging that the department disciplines its white officers less often than black officers, and punishes officers who speak out against the department.

The Metro police department deny a lot the claims in the lawsuit saying it contains “plethora of misinformation.” Noting that the department’s training academy is accredited by an international agency, gives six months of training to new recruits and has “an ever expanding and evolving curriculum” for its training program.

“The Metropolitan Police Department takes strong issue with this inflammatory attack on the department as a whole, our officers and our training academy,” the department said in a statement.

In a statement, the Fraternal Order of Police said, “All of the wild and reckless claims in this lawsuit can’t change the fact that Daniel Hambrick was a dangerous and violent convicted felon, running from police, who threatened the life of an officer and forced that officer to defend himself.”

In September 2018, Delke was charged with first-degree murder in the case. Delke is the first Nashville officer to face these charges for an on-duty shooting. He pleaded not guilty, claiming he shot in self-defense. Delke said Hambrick was carrying a gun.

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