Rye PD Officer Suspended After Public Intoxication Arrest in Nashville

A Rye PD officer has been suspended without pay in the wake of being charged with public intoxication Saturday evening in Nashville, Tennessee. Jesse Calcagni was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police Department while with a group of friends at The Valentine bar in downtown Nashville. Another individual in the friend group, Andrew Norelli, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

“This is inconsistent with the behavior I expect from officers in the City of Rye as well as Officer Calcagni’s past performance,” Public Safety Commissioner Mike Kopy told MyRye.com Tuesday evening. “Officer Calcagni has been suspended without pay, effective immediately, and a thorough and complete investigation will be conducted regarding this incident.”

The suspension is for one month. Kopy said he cannot put a definitive timeline on the investigation, but that the department would use every resource to get the information it needs as quickly as possible.

According to Nashville PD, officers responding to the Valentine Bar on Saturday were told by the head of security that as security was escorting a friend of Calcagni out of the bar, Calcagni became aggressive and jumped on a security officer’s back. He was quickly removed and escorted downstairs. While being escorted, he continuously turned around in an aggressive manor towards the head of security.

Once at the bar exit, Calcagni shoved the head of security in the chest. Security officers were able to gain control of Calcagni and notify police officers. Officers observed Calcagni sitting in the alley outside The Valentine bar where he was being constrained by security.

He had an odor of alcoholic beverage and was slurring his words, according to Nashville police. He was repeatedly yelling “are you Metro?”. He had trouble getting to his feet and was unsteady standing. Due to being a danger to himself and others, Calcagni was taken into custody and booked without incident.

It was when Calcagni was being placed in a patrol car by Metro Nashville Police Department officers that friend Andrew Norelli became very hostile, according to local police. He was subsequently arrested as well.

Calcagni joined the Rye PD in January 2019. Prior to joining, Calcagni was a parking enforcement officer in the Village of Port Chester. At the Rye PBA awards dinner this past December, Police Officer Calcagni received a Life Saving Award for saving the life of a 14 month old baby who was actively choking on September 15th, 2021.

The arrest was first reported by Scoop Nashville and details were confirmed by the Metro Nashville Police Department on Tuesday.