On 1/30/2023, MPD Major Frank Winston was driving a pickup truck seized through a narcotics investigation and not assigned to him. When he went to park the vehicle upon his return, he scraped the passenger side of the truck along the driver side of a black Range Rover parked in the lot. After parking the truck, he exits the vehicle, appearing to be talking on the phone. He walks back to the Range Rover to look at the damage to the Range Rover then rubs his hand along the damaged side of the truck in an apparent attempt to wipe off any damage. He then gathers his belongings from the truck and walks away.
Major Winston failed to report this crash and the damage per MPD policy and TN state law. Once this information was discovered, a complaint was filed to MPD Inspectional Services for investigations of the crash, failure to report and tampering with evidence. Further, Major Winston was promoted to Colonel and assigned as the commander for OCU. Since then, he illegally transferred the damaged truck to the MPD Firearms Training Unit for general use purposes. The complaint has been investigated and findings sent to the office of Assistant Chief Jones, where it has set with no action taken. Colonel Winston still retains his current position and has received no discipline for his policy violations or arrest for violation of state law regarding Leaving the Scene of a Crash – Property Damage Only and Tampering With Evidence. Meanwhile, other lower ranking officers have been dealt with for lesser offenses with swifter and harsher punishments.
