Nashville Settles Lawsuit, Allows HIV+ Officers To Serve

Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth speaks at the Pentagon in Washington, Feb. 22, 2024. The U.S. Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, which is nearly 5%. It's also restructurin

In a significant legal settlement, the city of Nashville, Tennessee, has agreed to no longer automatically disqualify individuals with HIV from serving as Metropolitan Nashville Police Officers. This decision comes after a federal discrimination lawsuit was filed by a former Memphis police officer, known as John Doe, who was denied a job offer in 2020 due to his HIV status.

Despite providing a letter from his healthcare provider confirming that his HIV was effectively managed with medication and posed no risk of transmission, Nashville police cited their charter, which previously excluded candidates with HIV based on physical requirements similar to those for the U.S. Army or Navy.