Death of 6-month-old baby ties to immigration, emergency service concerns in La Vergne

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6 days ago

La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews suspects deportation fears might have contributed to a delay in emergency calls related to the death of a 6-month-old baby around Easter.
Moews learned about the death of the child April 12 and planned a town hall meeting for May 21 at Community Church in La Vergne to communicate with the city's Hispanic population about emergency services.
"Nobody wants another dead 6-month-old baby," said Moews, a second-year chief. "We're here to help people."
The child's death and planning for the town hall happened about three weeks prior to reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs agents had arrived in Rutherford County to apprehend people for possible deportation, Moews said.
The baby's death remains under investigation and involved a male caretaker who noticed the child was not breathing and didn't call 911 for help. The caretaker's girlfriend arrived and did call 911, Moews said.
The male caretaker "was in the country illegally," Moews said.
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Moews urged residents during the recent town hall to not be fearful to call 911 if faced with an emergency no matter their immigration status.
"We are trying to encourage people to call the police and not be afraid," Moews told The Daily News Journal May 27.
About 30 people attended the town hall at Community Church on Old Nashville Highway in La Vergne, Moews said. The church sign touts worship services in English, Creole, Spanish, Nigerian and Arabic.
The chief said the turnout might have been stronger had there not been recent reports about ICE agents being in Rutherford County.
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Among those who attended the town hall for people concerned with ICE operations is Rutherford County Commissioner Hope Oliver, D-La Vergne.
"It's sad," Oliver told The Daily News Journal May 27.
"That's what's going on under the current administration. I think it's just domestic terrorism."
Oliver represents District 1 in north La Vergne and is one of two elected Democrats on the 21-member county commission that also includes 16 Republicans and three independents.
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Tennessee Department of Correction spokeswoman Sarah Gallagher confirmed to The Daily News Journal May 8 that ICE agents apprehended people in Rutherford.
"In a coordinated effort to increase public safety, 14 individuals were detained by ICE agents at TDOC's Probation/Parole Office in Murfreesboro this week," Gallagher said. "TDOC will continue to uphold the law, and partner with state and federal agencies to support ICE operations as needed."
The town hall event in La Vergne also followed ICE operations conducted May 2-10 in Nashville that resulted in nearly 200 arrests during a joint operation between the Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE.
ICE officials have not confirmed if any of those arrested during the May THP stops come from cities outside of Nashville.
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In a May 9 social media post, the La Vergne Police Department said it did not participate with law enforcement on immigration enforcement.
"While we did become aware today that other agencies have been conducting enforcement operations within city limits, we have not been contacted or included in those efforts," the department said in a statement on Facebook.
"We remain committed to transparency, community trust, and serving all residents of La Vergne with fairness and professionalism. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out."
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Moews told the town hall audience that the city's police force is not partnering with ICE on apprehending people unlawfully present.
The La Vergne police force, however, will follow Tennessee law and notify ICE if officers learn about any immigrants in the city without legal status to be in the country, Moews said.
"We're stuck in the middle," Moews said. "We have to provide service to the whole community, but we have to abide in the law."
Officers making traffic stops for speeding do not typically ask for immigration status, said Moews, who has served in law enforcement since 1994 in Wisconsin for most of his career before accepting his chief position in La Vergne in August 2023.
"I have personally done thousands of traffic stops, and I can't recall a single one where I asked about someone's immigration status," Moews said.
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La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole also attended the town hall.
"You had people there who were concerned about themselves or their neighbors, and you had people there who were actually trying to find out what the actual letter of the law is," Cole told The Daily News Journal May 27.
"Chief Moews put it simply. We enforce the law."
Cole promised to attend the town hall provided that his flight home would arrive on time after promoting his city to businesses at the International Council of Shopping Centers event at the Las Vegas Convention Center May 18-20.
"I'm supportive of listening to our residents and responding appropriately," Cole said.
"The residents of La Vergne put me and the rest of the (La Vergne Board of Mayor and Aldermen in elected office) to listen to them. To not listen or respond accordingly, would be a betrayal of their trust."
Mayor Cole also said he's never been asked about his status as a lawful citizen whenever he's been pulled over by police.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: La Vergne community fears baby's death lead to immigration concerns