By: Leif Bromme
On Feb. 2, 2026, the Collegedale City Commission unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Collegedale Police Department and the Tennessee Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF), a local extension of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The agreement ensures future collaboration between the two groups, a need brought to the forefront after Collegedale’s recent human trafficking case.
MOUs are documents used to establish a working relationship between two parties without a legally binding contract; they describe the rules and expectations of a relationship while also outlining processes for when collaborative action needs to occur. According to the memorandum its guidelines will “delineate the responsibilities of the CEHTTF personnel; formalize relationships between participating agencies for policy guidance, planning, training, public and media relations; and maximize inter-agency cooperation.”
The document provides an itemized description of how the parties will conduct themselves, including rules surrounding information sharing, investigative methods, confidential human sources, records and reports. The MOU was proposed in the wake of the human trafficking sting conducted Aug. 21, described in a previous Accent article. The ripples of the arrests of 11 individuals, eight of whom were tried for solicitation of a minor, have led the police department to reinforce their existing relationship with the FBI task force.
“This is just a little bit of a cleanup for an existing MOU with the CEHTTF,” said Police Chief Jack Sapp. “As our department grows, these task forces will allow us much deeper resources and experience in investigating these types of crimes.”
In an email to the Accent, Assistant Police Chief Jamie Heath described the additional resources and other benefits that Collegedale will receive by working more closely with state and federal agencies.
“Partnerships like these strengthen our ability to recognize and investigate human trafficking cases more efficiently,” he wrote. “It gives our agency access to federal intelligence, specialized training, and more resources that go far beyond what a local department can maintain on its own.”
Heath also described the time-sensitive manner of human trafficking investigations. With more resources and agents on hand, Collegedale police can identify victims and intervene much more swiftly. By partnering with the FBI, it is also easier to work across jurisdictional lines and connect isolated incidents into a stronger case.
In the event of future human trafficking cases, Heath explained that federal and local agents would work jointly to secure the safety of victims and investigate occurrences. Although working in conjunction with the FBI, Heath emphasized that local police forces would remain completely autonomous.
“Local officers remain under the direction of the Collegedale Police Department, while investigations are jointly planned and carried out with federal partners to make sure the case is handled at the appropriate level. … Collegedale officers remain employees of the city, answer to our agency leadership, and are assigned to task force operations only with the department’s consent.”
Heath also discussed information security. According to the MOU, all documents and reports pertaining to a case are property of the FBI. Still, Heath emphasized that Collegedale authorities have channels to request and manage information needed for government operations and transparency.
Tristan Macomber, freshman political science major, is supportive of the renewed partnership.
“I think this is a good step for the Collegedale Police Department,” he stated. “It’s an important signal to residents that the department is taking a more active role in addressing these types of things.”
Collegedale’s ongoing human trafficking case has raised awareness of issues that lurk beneath the calm surface of the community. Actions such as the recent memorandum may help authorities develop a more robust response to these types of crimes.
City Commissioner Laura Howse, speaking on behalf of the government, recognizes the importance of this move.
“Chief Sapp regularly brings MOUs like this forward, and it reflects our city’s commitment to keeping our community safe. … Improved information sharing and stronger support for investigations ultimately help[s] protect children and hold the offenders accountable.”
