Metro Police to set up office at Hickory Hollow Mall

As a way of increasing police presence in the Hickory Hollow area, the Metro Police Department is setting up an office inside Hickory Hollow Mall. Officers assigned to the Hickory Hollow area and flex team members will use the office to do paperwork. Officers also will have a kiosk set up at the mall for recruiting purposes.

Communities Unite To Fight Crime

Channel 5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Hundreds of people marched in Antioch and attended a rally targeting youth violence Tuesday. The event was part of the National Night Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III, senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church Out Against Crime observance nationwide. Neighborhood associations and community groups across the country took part in celebrations and special events to mark the 25th annual national observance. Among the events Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas attended was a community wide collaboration in Antioch targeting youth violence. Participants marched along Bell Road and attended a rally at Hickory Hollow Mall. It was a march with a message that attracted hundreds of people. "It's a hard thing to see your community going down and see so many young people being mislead," said Alicia Bell. "To see people wiling to come out means that people are ready to do something, not just talk about it, but really put some programs behind, put some structure behind it," said Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III, senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, which sponsored the event. Metro Councilwoman Vivian Wilhoite and her constituents, Hickory Hollow Mall, Regions Bank and Americhoice were the other major sponsors. Community and faith partners included Iglesia Monte Los Olivos, Antioch United Methodist Church as well as Metro Schools, Oasis Center and the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The latest juvenile crime statistics show the number of juveniles arrested for robbery is down 18 percent compared to this time last year. Juvenile arrests for violent crimes are down 28 percent. "But we've got to be truthful with the public, with the families," Serpas said. "Because the children who are still being arrested for violent crime, they're still very violent kids." "We're all in this together," said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. "We're a community and we need to work together to improve schools and to improve public safety." Elsewhere in Middle Tennessee, people gathered to also observe National Night Out Against Crime within their communities. Police officers and firefighters joined area neighbors in Stanford Estates on Downey Meade Court in the Donelson area. There were activities for children including a bike parade. But the heat forced one city to cancel their activities. The Cookeville Police Department planned an event at their headquarters. The department plans to reschedule, but an alternate date wasn't announced Tuesday.

134 Metro police cars parked to save gas

By KATE HOWARD • Staff Writer (Tennessean)• July 22, 2008 The Metro Police Department has parked 134 cars to comply with the mayor’s call to reduce the fleet and save money on gas. With the largest fleet of cars in the city, the police department made the biggest cut. More than 10 percent cut of their fleet of 1,292 vehicles are now parked in a lot off Murfreesboro Road with the keys turned into Metro government. According to a list provided by Metro police, many cars belong to school resource officers who will now be required to drive personal cars to their jobs at local high schools instead of marked patrol cars. Many of the remaining cuts are detectives’ vehicles, patrol cars and vans used for SWAT or evidence collection, and motorcycles used to patrol the downtown. Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said that many of the cars were backup vehicles or cars that department heads thought would be the least likely to affect their core function of patrolling the streets."There's an impact to the extent that there was a loss of some extra vehicles at the precincts, but as far as impacting zone cars in the patrol function, there's not," Aaron said. Mayor Karl Dean in June called for the parking of about 400 cars citywide, for a potential gas savings of up to $1.4 million. At Metro police, the decisions on what vehicles to park were left up to the commanders of each division, according to Aaron. There are also 47 cars that are no longer being taken home by staffers, Aaron said.But patrol officers who live within Davidson County are still allowed and encouraged to take their cars home to their neighborhoods, for readiness in case of an emergency and a deterrent to criminals.While school resource officers have lost their vehicles, Aaron said precinct commanders are working out fixes so every high school has a marked car in the lot once school is back in session. Middle schools may not, he said. Michael Craddock, Metro councilman and chairman of the public safety committee, said he is worried about the impact the cuts may have on the city’s safety.“We just graduated 46 officers Thursday night,” Craddock said. “What are they going to ride in? I’m extremely concerned right this moment that we’re taking police cars off the street. Until I receive an explanation of this, I’m extremely concerned.”Aaron said there's no loss of force on the city's streets, and they have not moved any officers to bike or foot patrols. He said there's no need to worry about new officers, either; trainees work in two-person cars for their first five months, and their needs will be addressed when the time comes. The police will also be adding 86 new cars by September. Some will replace wrecked or inoperable cars, but about 35 will be replenished stock.The Nashville Fire Department also parked 33 of their 329 vehicles and cut their take-home car assignments nearly in half, from 53 to 30, according to information from the mayor's office.But no ambulances or fire trucks are among the cuts, Nashville Fire spokesman Charles Shannon said. Most of their parked cars were also backups.

Police Offer Dozens Of Tips To Curb Auto Thefts

Posted:Channel 5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Every year hundreds of vehicles are stolen in Middle Tennessee. Metro police said they've come up with 50 ways to keep your car safe. Even with the advent of bait cars and security alarms auto theft is still big in Nashville. Thieves are getting away with too many vehicles. Since June 12, 168 vehicles have been reported stolen in Davidson County. In more than half the cases the victims made one big mistake. They left keys in the car. If you're a thief you couldn't ask for a better invitation. "I mean thieves are out there looking to victimize everybody. They don't need any help," said Sgt. Billy Smith of Metro's Auto Theft Unit. The Metro Police Department's newest crime prevention program is called 50 Ways To Keep Your Car Safe. And, it may all seem like common sense reminders. But, police said, they see people making the same mistakes over and over again. "The obvious thing, take your keys with you when you go, which will make it harder for the thief to steal. Never, ever, ever leave the title," Smith said. Tennessee law requires a registration in the car -- not the title. "If they steal the car there's nothing they can do with that. If your title is in the car when they steal the car that car is theirs," Smith said. He also advised against hiding a key on the car. "Once they got that, they've got your car," he said. "I know it's hot, 100 degrees out here, but if you leave your car windows down it's another avenue to get into your automobile," he said. Locks are also important. Most new cars have the kind you can't get a hold of, but older cars "have the T's on them." "It's easy to run anything through here or through the door and pop that open and they're in the vehicle," Smith said. He said always park your car with the wheels turned because some thieves will try to tow your vehicle away. He also advised against leaving valuables sitting in the car. To a thief, a purse or bag means the possibility of an extra set of keys. To see video:http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8663541&nav=menu374_2_8

Police Catch Gang Members With Trooper's Weapon

July 10, 2008 05:15 PM CDT Channel 5 news NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A gun that belongs to a state trooper got into the hands of gang members, but thanks to quick action of one Metro Police officer the weapon is back where it belongs. It was along Murfreesboro Road where police arrested two members of the gang known as Brown Pride. They were spotted sitting in a stolen car at a nearby strip mall. One of the 15-year-olds was carrying a gun that was stolen from a state trooper's house in Clarksville. Trooper James Burns reported the weapon missing over the weekend. "Officer Steve Holiday saw two suspicious persons sitting in a vehicle over here. He walked up to talk to them and in his initial contact with them one of them told him he had a pistol in his waist band," said Russell Ward with Metro Police. Police said all it took was a glance, to see that the Glock .357 belonged to law enforcement. "It's stamped on the weapon. Our weapons are identifiable too. And theirs are the same weapon, it says Tennessee Highway patrol on the slot of the weapon," Russell Ward with Metro Police. Police said they aren't sure if the two teenagers are responsible for stealing the trooper's weapon or the vehicle they were in. Thursday night, both suspects were in jail.

53 to graduate from police academy

By MATT MEDVED • Staff Writer • July 1, 2008 Fifty-three Nashville residents will graduate tonight from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. The 6 p.m. ceremony will take place in the community room of the Hermitage Precinct, located at 3701 James Kay Lane. Mayor Karl Dean and Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas will be in attendance to honor the graduates, who have completed the required 11-week course.Since its creation in 1995, 931 Nashville residents have graduated from the Citizen Police Academy.

2 arrested after lengthy police pursuit

Metro police arrested two suspects after a lengthy police pursuit overnight that ended when the women's car got stuck in a parking lot off of Elm Hill Pike in Donelson and police had to force entry. Metro police Capt. Randy Hickerson said that shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday an officer attempted to stop a silver Oldsmobile Alero because police believed that the car and tags were stolen and that the suspects and/or vehicle possibly may have been involved in a robbery. The car did not stop for the officer and a pursuit began with speeds staying very low, Hickerson said. On Briley Parkway, speed reached 50 mph. Police were able to lay down spike strips two times, which deflated the suspects' tires, but the driver continued to travel with three of her tires flattened. After about 35 minutes police vehicles were getting in position to block the vehicle as they were in the Elm Hill Pike and Donelson Pike area. However, the Alero pulled into a parking lot at Airport Center Drive and Elm Hill Pike and then got stuck on top of a curbed dirt mound. Officers approached, telling both suspects to exit the vehicle, but they refused. Their doors were locked. Officers broke out windows and gained access to the suspects and took them into custody, Hickerson said.The driver faces charges of motor vehicle theft, theft of a tag, revoked driver's license, and felony evading. The passenger had an outstanding parole violation warrant. The suspects' names were not released. Police believe the women were using drugs prior to the pursuit.Police learned that the vehicle had not been involved in a robbery as earlier suspected.— LEIGH RAY (tennesean)

Vandals spray-paint cars in Antioch neighborhood

Reported on WKRN Channel 2 News Residents in one Antioch neighborhood are calling for more police protection after vandals damaged several cars on their street. Several residents on Paddington Way, off Mt. View near Percy Priest Lake, woke up Thursday morning to find their cars spray-painted. Police woke up Samuel Sanford to tell him his truck had been vandalized. He broke the news to his wife, Karla. "He said someone just spray-painted our truck and my stomach just sunk," she said. The Sanford's are not the only ones who woke up with paint on their cars. Every single home on the one side of the street woke up with some kind of vandalism. Vandals hit one mailbox and all of the cars, trucks and SUVs left in the driveway or on Paddington Way. Brian Leedham said it is the fourth time his car has been hit. The vandals wrote the word "Crip" on several cars, further instilling fears of gang violence in some. Leedham, however, isn't convinced. "That's kids being kids," he said. "From my travels, I know what Crips and Bloods look like. Those are just copy cats. Crips and Bloods aren't interested in doing stuff like that." Metro police took pictures of the damage to determine if it is in fact gang activity. To see Video Click Here: http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8331243&nav=menu5_2_2_3