NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department is mourning the death of Commander Scott Byrd, who suffered a heart attack Monday before leaving for work.
Officials said Byrd, 50, was rushed from his home to TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center on Monday morning, and was transferred to TriStar Centennial Medical Center, where he died Friday night. He was a 25-year MNPD veteran who oversaw SWAT, Bomb Squad, emergency contingency and marine operations.
Byrd joined the MNPD on Jan. 16, 2000, and graduated from the police academy five months later. During his career, he was promoted first to sergeant in 2008, then to lieutenant in 2013. Six years later, he was promoted to captain. In December 2020, he was appointed commander. Byrd also held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cumberland University.
Byrd worked numerous assignments during his time with the police department, including as the first leader of the School Safety Division, director of training, executive officer of the Community Services Bureau, and as the incident commander during the Covenant School shooting in 2023…