Published: June 26, 2009 10:59 am      

Officer shot in Nashville a London native

A Nashville, Tenn. Metro Police officer who was critically shot Thursday following a routine traffic stop is a London, Ky. native who, family said, always wanted to be a police officer.

The Tennessean newspaper reported that Sgt. Mark Chesnut, 44, was near exit 196 on Interstate 40 running a drivers license during what officials said was a routine traffic stop. The newspaper reported that a suspect from the car he was checking, which bore Georgia tags, walked up to the officer and opened fire. Chesnut had been shot in the upper body, but body armor provided protection for at least some of the shots. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition.

Two suspects were arrested in the area a short time later, but their names had not been released as of press time.

Chesnut, who graduated from Laurel County High School, was a 22-year veteran of the Nashville police force.

Chesnut’s uncle, Jack Bruner of London, said his nephew was so intent on becoming a law enforcement officer, he left college in his senior year to take a job with the Nashville force.

“He left from high school here and went over to Eastern (Kentucky University) and was in his senior year at Eastern during Christmas break... They had some openings on the police force and he always wanted to be a policeman.” Bruner said when Chesnut announced his plans to leave school for the job, “his mom and dad liked to died. He has since finished (college), but that’s how bad he wanted to be a policeman.

“He had a real desire to be a police officer. The first chance he got, he took,” Bruner said.

Chesnut’s father, Charles Keith Chesnut, is deceased. His mother, Virginia Benge Chesnut, lives in a London nursing home. He has three brothers, one of whom runs Patton Chesnut Binder Insurance in London.

Chesnut is married and has two daughters, ages 13 and 11, one from a previous marriage, and one son, who is about 5 years old, Bruner said.

“They say he’s in critical but stable condition,” Bruner said. “They’ve done some emergency surgery and have more scheduled in the morning.”