June 19, 2009

News from the Chief

As many of you know, our police department, since June 2005, has arranged for an independent polling company to conduct a scientific satisfaction survey of Nashville adults and businesses every six months to gauge how we are responding to the needs and concerns of the community. During each survey, responses are received from at least 400 adults and at least 400 businesses randomly chosen by the survey company, Wilson Research Strategies of Oklahoma city and Washington, D.C. Your diligence and commitment to our citys safety continue to be held in high regard, as evidenced by the latest survey, the first of 2009, which was completed this month. Overall satisfaction with the MNPD is at an all time high among adults (84% total satisfied) and is essentially tied with an all time high among businesses (86% total satisfied). Crime fighting satisfaction is also at an all time high among adults (77% total satisfied) and is quite strong among businesses (78% total satisfied). The survey shows that 69% of adults and businesses are satisfied with our crime prevention strategies (which continue to evolve from precinct to precinct), and that 72% of adults and 78% of businesses are satisfied with our enforcement of traffic laws. A number of other questions are asked during the survey, which you can read at your leisure by visiting the following link on the departments Internet site: http://www.police.nashville.org/docs/reports/MNPD_0906%20SatStudy_MQ_090616.pdf Thank you all for your fine work. It is being noticed every day by Nashvilles families and businesses.

Happenings
Shoneys Family Fun Run
Shoneys 2009 5K Family Fun Run June 6th, benefiting the Metropolitan Police Department, was a tremendous success. Over 800 persons participated in the 5K run raising over $22,000 for a Nashville Police Foundation that is in the formation stages. The top priority of the foundation will be to help officers offset the expense of earning college degrees.

The date for next years run is already scheduled for Saturday, June 5th, 2010.

Shoneys CEO David Davoudpour presents Chief Ronal Serpas with a check for $22,075 raised during the inaugural Shoneys 5K Family Fun Run.

Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award

Metro Police Officer and Chaplain James Duke, who suffered severe damage to his left arm after being dragged for more than a mile by a shoplifters car, became the latest member of the Metropolitan Police Department to receive the prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award. The Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award is given to a police officer who has rendered outstanding and praiseworthy service to the department and the community despite a serious handicap, illness, or injury. One January 23, 1991, Officer Duke was dragged at speeds between 45 and 60 mph after trying to arrest a shoplifter outside a Gallatin Road department store. After reaching into the suspects car to remove keys from the ignition, the driver rolled up the window, trapping Dukes arms inside. She drove away, with him hanging from the door. Duke managed to wrestle away the steering wheel at least three times during the mile and a half trek to avoid being struck by other vehicles. Throughout the ordeal, the suspect indicated she was going to try to kill Duke by running him into a tractor-trailer or the median of the interstate. Duke was ultimately able to force the car into a ditch and break the window. Buck Dozier, a Metro councilman at the time, actually saw Duke hanging from the window of the moving car and followed it. He was the first person to render aid to the injured officer. Duke suffered a severed artery in his left arm. A vein was taken from his left leg to repair the damage. It was more than eleven months before he was able to use his hand and

almost 18-months before he could use his police firearm. The nerve damage from that cold January day was so severe that, until this day, Duke has no sensation in his arm and hand. In some ways, however, the most difficult part of his recovery was emotional. Officers who experience near-death injuries have more than just physical wounds. Officer Duke suffered nightmares and anxiety attacks and today realizes his symptoms of shock and distress were perfectly normal. Today, Duke works in the police departments Behavioral Health Services Division, which assists officers who have experienced a traumatic event. In addition, Duke, an ordained minister and pastor of St. Paul Primitive Baptist Church, is the police departments chaplain and is a driving force behind the success of the departments volunteer chaplain program. The Theodore Roosevelt Association established this awards program in honor of Roosevelts distinguished service as President of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York City from 1895 to 1897, and in recognition of his lifelong admiration for the police. Nashville is one of a small number of cities in the United States to present the Roosevelt Award. Others include New York City, Buffalo and upstate New York, Boston, Long Island, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The generous support of Shoneys makes this years award possible. Through Shoneys generosity, and that of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, Officer Duke will receive a $1,000 cash award, a medal, and a bust of Theodore Roosevelt. A bronze plaque, which bears a likeness of Roosevelt, and which is currently on display in the lobby of police headquarters, will now include the inscription of Officer Dukes name.

Pictured (l-r) are Buck Dozier, Theodore Roosevelt Association Trustee Jim Summerville, Shoneys CEO David Davoudpour, Chaplain James Duke and Chief Ronal Serpas.

Hispanic Community Festival

The Nashville Police Departments North Precinct in partnership with the El Protector Program hosted a Hispanic Community Festival on Sunday, June 14th at Cedar Hill Park in Madison. The festival featured live music, childrens activities including pony rides and a rock climbing wall, police special operations displays, crime prevention tips, several food vendors and child safety seat information.

Lincoya Hills Neighborhood Association Picnic

The Lincoya Hills Neighborhood Association sponsored a picnic June 13th at Two Rivers Park to discuss area issues and to honor police officers and firefighters. The Hermitage Precinct works closely with the association in community policing activities.

Pictured (l-r) are Detective Matthew Atnip, a resident, and Officers Paul Joyner and Daniel Turner.

Hermitage Precinct Commander Grill Master Michelle Richter assists Lincoya Hills Neighborhood Association members.

Safe Summer Program for Kids

Hermitage Precinct officers, the departments mounted patrol, and other police components participated in the Safe Summer Program for Kids at Opry Mills mall. Interactive and educational stations inside Opry Mills offered a hands-on way for kids and parents to learn important safety lessons together. Officers on horseback, an inflatable obstacle course and other fun activities were located in the mall parking lot. Officers answered questions concerning bike safety and crime prevention. Members from the Hazardous Devices Unit conducted a demonstration with the robot.

Session 60
Members of Police Recruit Session 60 purchased a commemorative plaque for placement at the foot of the flag pole in front of the Training Academy. Session 60 graduation ceremonies will be held Monday, July 13th, at the Schrader Lane Church of Christ.

Session 60 presents a commemorative plaque to the Training Academy.

Mayor Dean & Chief Serpas Welcome Police Recruit Session 61

Mayor Karl Dean and Chief Ronal Serpas formally welcomed the 39 members of Police Recruit Session 61, who began their 22-weeks of training on June 1.

Mayor Dean welcomes the 39 members of Police Recruit Session 61.

Arms Update

TRAIN THE TRAINER CLASSES START IN JULY! The Train the Trainers schedule was distributed earlier this week to all our designated trainers. These key personnel will be trained directly by the ARMS software vendors training staffs and in turn these trainers will train all MNPD personnel before Main Go Live later this year. The Train the Trainers dates run from Monday, July 13th, thru Friday, August 14th, in four locations: Training Academy Classroom #1, JIS Training Room in Parkway Towers on James Robertson Pkwy/3rd Avenue, the DCSO Training facility on South 5th Street/Summer Place in East Nashville, and the East Precinct Community Room.

These trainers will obtain hands-on training on AFR Approval Workflow, all RMS modules and even attend a Training Tips & Techniques class to assist them in becoming certified ARMS trainers. The detailed End User Training schedule by course curriculum & topics by area will be posted later this summer. Classes are tentatively scheduled to start around Monday, August 16th, and run through Friday, October 9th. We will be adding two additional training facilities at Metro Southeast for these sessions.

The Precinct News

Hermitage Quick police action aided by a 16-year-old witness led to the arrest of two teenagers for burglarizing a home on Lera Jones Drive in the Priest Lake area of the Hermitage Precinct. The 16-year-old was inside his residence when he heard someone repeatedly ring the door bell. Moments later burglars kicked open the back door. The 16-year-old slipped out of the house without being noticed and called police with a very detailed description of the burglars and their vehicle. Using information provided by the witness, Officers Mike Dixon and James McGill traced the car to a home on Edge Moor Drive. Officers and a police helicopter surrounded the home. Dhargham Ateia, 18, and his 17-year-old accomplice came outside and surrendered. Both admitted to the burglary during questioning by detectives. Merchandise stolen from the home, including a laptop computer and a videogame system, were recovered from the getaway car. In response to citizen complaints about drug activity at 318 Capital Street in the Hopewell community of Old Hickory, Hermitage Precinct undercover officers Thursday night executed a search warrant at the residence and arrested five persons. The five individuals are identified as: Charles E. Staten, 43, of 318 Capital Street, who is charged with possession of cocaine for resale, possession of marijuana and hydrocodone, and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon (Staten has prior felony drug convictions); Elizabeth Childress, 43, of 318 Capital Street, who is charged with possession of marijuana and hydrocodone; Pierre Chatman, 23, of 214 Connare Drive in Madison, who is charged with possession of cocaine for resale and possession of Xanax; Donald Howard, 34, of 1205 Sioux Terrace, who is charged with possession of cocaine for resale and violation of probation; and Nashon Kimble, 19, who is charged with marijuana possession and unlawful gun possession. The investigation shows that crack cocaine and marijuana have been sold from

the home over the past several weeks. Additional drug charges are likely. SWAT officers and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted with the investigation.

South
South Precinct officers charged 38 persons with a variety of offenses as part of a joint operation with the State Board of Parole and Probation designed to ensure safety at the Boards Blanton Avenue office. South Flex, School Resource and Crime Suppression Unit officers stood by on the property as board employees searched reporting probationers and parolees along with the vehicles in which they arrived (the property is posted with signage alerting visitors that they are subject to search). While most of the persons charged (28) received state misdemeanor offenses for driving on revoked or suspended licenses, arrests were also made for outstanding warrants, felony cocaine possession, unlawful weapon possession (a walking cane with a hidden sword), misdemeanor marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The June 9th operation served as a warning by both the Board of Parole and Probation and Metro Police that illegal actions and contraband on state property, including the Blanton Avenue Parole and Probation office, will not be tolerated. Similar operations are likely to be held in the coming weeks. Officer Ryan Hamptons traffic stop of a Pontiac Grand Prix for excessive window tint early today in the Hickory Hollow area led to the arrest of two alleged computer thieves. When Hampton walked up to the car, he noticed two large boxes with flashing security lights in the back seat. Further investigation revealed that the Dell touch screen monitor and HP Pavilion computer, with a combined value in excess of $1500, were stolen from a local WalMart less than ten minutes before the traffic stop. Jerome Helm, 23, of Franklin, and Brandon Johnson, 18, of Nashville, are both charged with felony theft. In addition, Helm is charged with driving on a revoked license.

East
East Precinct detectives have charged a North Nashville man with criminal homicide for the March 4th shooting death of Wayne Howard Moore inside an apartment in the Copperstone Village complex at 1120 Litton Avenue. Stephen Lowery, 45, of Dr. D.B. Todd Boulevard, is accused of killing Moore during an argument while trying to collect a prostitution-related debt on behalf of a female. During an interview, Lowery admitted to shooting Moore, 50, inside the apartment.

North
North Precinct detectives Thursday arrested three teenagers for the April 25th fatal shooting of 16-year-old Loren Johnson inside her home on Chesapeake Drive. DeAngelo M. Moody, 16, Ortago L. Thomas, 17, and Martez Matthews, 17, are charged with criminal homicide in Juvenile Court. Detectives developed information that the teenagers fired shots from inside a car as the vehicle turned from Brickmont Drive onto Chesapeake Drive. Johnson, a Whites Creek High School student, was killed by a bullet that pierced the walls of her home as she read a book in her bedroom. The shooters were apparently firing at other persons on foot in the neighborhood. The investigation, which is being headed by Detective Billy Jackson, is continuing. Accused killer Denzel Wallace surrendered himself Wednesday to Special Response Team SWAT officers at the North Precinct. Those officers had been working with Wallaces family and ultimately Wallace himself to arrange his surrender. Wallace refused to answer detectives questions in regard to the fatal shooting of Jere Baxter Middle School Assistant Principal Jamie Hopkins on Clay Street near 12th Avenue North. Wallace has been taken to the Metropolitan Justice Center for booking on a charge of criminal homicide.

Specialized Investigations Division

A father and son from Phoenix, Arizona, are jailed in Nashville for allegedly trafficking women in sexual servitude. Specialized Investigations Division detectives arrested Charles Lee, 24, and Timothy Lee, 42, at the Red Roof Inn on Sidco Drive after a 20-year-old Texas woman asked motel management to call police. The 20-year-old reported that Charles Lee encountered her at the Greyhound Bus Station th on 8 Avenue and asked her if she wanted to make money giving massages. The 20-year-old agreed and traveled by cab with Charles Lee to the Red Roof Inn. There, she met three other women and was allegedly told that she was expected to be part of a sexual escort-type business (detectives subsequently learned that the three other women are featured in the erotic services advertising sections of three Internet sites). Charles & Timothy Lee and the three women were not at the motel when detectives arrived. When they came to pick up the 20-year-old, they were confronted and arrested. One of the women told police that she had been traveling with the men for the past few years and was not allowed to leave them. Charles Lee is charged with trafficking sexual servitude, tampering with evidence (for intentionally breaking a cell phone believed to be involved in the prostitution business), and misdemeanor marijuana possession. He is being held in lieu of $115,000 bail.

Timothy Lee is charged with trafficking sexual servitude and misdemeanor marijuana possession. He is being held in lieu of $105,000 bail. The three women traveling with the Lees are also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. They are identified as Chiew Saephan, 22, of Las Vegas, and sisters Ashley Randall, 22, and Ebone Randall, 18, both of Denver. Detectives believe the Lees and the women have been in the Nashville area for the past few weeks. The investigation into their activities is continuing.

Special Response Team

Acting on a tip to Crime Stoppers, SWAT officers assigned to the Special Response Team arrested Green Hills robbery suspect Demonteice L. Henderson inside a home at 808 Usher Drive in Madison. Henderson and Christopher Gross, who surrendered to police earlier, are alleged to have robbed 18-year-old Erin Thurman of his wallet and cell phone on the afternoon of June 2 as he stood outside his broken down Nissan Maxima in a parking garage near the Green Hills movie theater. Thurman said the two forced him into the trunk of the Maxima at gunpoint before they fled. A man doing repair work on the garage freed Thurman after hearing him yelling and banging. Henderson and Gross, both 21, are also charged with robbing Darrius Summers, 28, as he walked to an apartment in the 1800 block of State Street in the early morning hours of June 2. Henderson is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and violation of probation. Gross was booked on two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, identify theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card (for using victim Thurmans charge card shortly after the June 2 robbery).

The following officers in the Field Operation Bureau were chosen Patrol, Police, and Investigator of the Month for May 2009 Patrol Officer of the Month
North Precinct Officer Kevin Cooley

Police Officer of the Month

South Precinct Officer Kenneth Stephens

Investigator of the Month

East Precinct Detective Brian Brown

Special Operations Officer of the Month

Canine Officer Joe Shelton

Congratulations:
Officer Jimmy Jordan, Warrants Division, and his wife, Rosalie, are the proud parents of Erin Shay Jordon born June 12.

Condolences:
Melvin Spencer, grandfather, of Officer Jason Spencer, South Precinct, passed away June 10. Ronnie Lee Pinchon, brother of retired Canine Officer Grady Pinchon, passed away June 10. Raymond Bega, grandfather of Session 61 Officer Trainee Craig Bega, passed away June 11. Mildred Campbell, grandmother of retired Officer William Porter Walker, passed away. James O. Williamson, Jr., father of Officer J.O. Williamson, North Precinct, and grandfather of Officer Tevares Hockett, Central Precinct, passed away June 14.