Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

From the City of Mt. Juliet, City Manager’s Office-

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. — Michael Mullins has been named Chief of Police for the Mt. Juliet Police Department, effective December 15 following the previously announced retirement of Chief James Hambrick.
Mullins has been with the department for 26 years and is currently the Deputy Chief of Police. Tyler Chandler, a 19-year member of the department and current captain, will be promoted to Deputy Chief of Police.

City Manager Kenny Martin announced the promotions Friday morning in front of a large crowd that gathered for the groundbreaking of a new $20 + million-dollar police headquarters that will be completed in 2025.

“I’m so proud and thankful for this wonderful blessing for our city and citizens,” Martin said. “We could not have found a pair with more experience and love for Mt. Juliet than Michael Mullins and Tyler Chandler to continue to lead our brave men and women of the Mt. Juliet Police Department.”

Mullins in his current role directly oversees the operational functions of the Patrol, Investigations, Special Operations, Canine, Training and Development, and Animal Control divisions. He most notably recently graduated from the 286th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

“God has blessed both of us with an incredible opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Chief Hambrick, who we cannot thank enough for serving our city so well for so long,” Mullins said. “I’m proud to have Tyler with me continuing to lead our department. Together we will work hard to better our community.”

Chandler has served as third-in-command, previously led the Community Engagement Unit as a Sergeant and Administrative Services Division as a Lieutenant. He is responsible for enhancing the department’s strategic growth, transparency, communication, and community engagement efforts in his Public Information Officer role.

“I am truly grateful for this next chapter and humbled to serve my home and the best community,” Chandler, who also administers the license plate recognition program, said. “It is an honor to continue supporting the dedicated men and women of Team MJPD and serve alongside Chief Mullins. Together, we will strive to ensure the safety and well-being of our community, working diligently to maintain the trust that has been placed in us.”

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department is excited to announce the groundbreaking ceremony for their new headquarters facility, scheduled for September 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. This highly anticipated event marks an important milestone in the department’s commitment to providing exceptional public safety services to the community.

The state-of-the-art facility will house an advanced police, fire, and EMS communications center and an emergency coordination center. Additionally, the building will feature a community storm shelter, enhanced vehicular and ballistic protection, more extensive evidence storage, and an evidence processing laboratory. Further, the facility will also include modern K9 kennels, a vehicle processing garage, and larger training rooms.

One of the key advantages of the new headquarters is the consolidation of all divisions back into a centralized location, allowing for improved efficiency in administration, patrol, and investigations. This unified approach will foster better collaboration and communication among members of the police department, ultimately leading to enhanced public safety services.

As part of our commitment to future planning and accommodating the city’s growth, the design of the new headquarters focuses on open workspaces and multifunctional rooms. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the approximately 45,000-square-foot building will adapt to the community’s evolving needs.

“This new headquarters facility represents a significant step forward for the Mt. Juliet Police Department. We are excited to provide our officers with a modern, efficient workspace that will enable them to continue serving and protecting our community with utmost dedication, said Chief James Hambrick. I am grateful for all the continued support from our Mayor Maness, Vice-Mayor Trivett, Commissioner Justice, Commissioner Hefner, Commissioner Milele, past Commissioners, and City Leadership who have assisted us in this 2-year process.”

Community members and local officials are invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. We encourage everyone to witness this historic event as we embark on a new chapter in our commitment to keeping our community safe. The groundbreaking will occur in the newly purchased field adjacent to the current police headquarters, 1019 Charlie Daniels Parkway, on Friday, September 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Captain Tyler Chandler led the project for the department alongside the design team, Architect Workshop, and contractor, The Parent Company. Every department member has been integral to the design process through their invaluable feedback.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers recovered two handguns while investigating an altercation involving two 17-year-old males at Willow Creek Apartments. Around 1:45 p.m. on Friday, August 25, officers responded to Willow Creek Apartments after a fight was reported in the parking lot. It was reported that two teenagers were actively involved in a fight, and they were likely armed. An officer arrived to find two suspects running away, and they were quickly apprehended by additional responding officers.

Further investigation revealed that the two 17-year-old males were actually in an altercation with another adult male and one of the teen’s mother. After one teen was located, two Glock handguns, both with extended magazines, were found with a large amount of marijuana. One of the guns was reported stolen.

Both teens were taken into custody and are facing the following charges:

Juvenile 1:

• 2 counts of Assault
• Possession of a Stolen Handgun
• Theft of a Firearm

Juvenile 2:

• Assault
• Possession of a Stolen Handgun
• Possession of a Schedule VI Drug for Resale

One of the teens was on supervised release probation.

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8/11/2023 Update: The final suspect from Tuesday’s pursuit and spike deployment on a car, stolen out of Nashville, was apprehended. An 18-year-old male, from Nashville, was arrested this afternoon at his Elm Hill residence.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers were involved in a pursuit that ended with the apprehension of two suspects, both juvenile males, following the successful deployment of spike systems.

The pursuit initiated around 2:30 p.m. after a stolen vehicle was detected by Guardian Shield LPR on Golden Bear Gateway near Interstate 40. Officers located the stolen car, which fled, but strategically deployed spike systems effectively disabled the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle then fled on foot, leading to a search involving K9 and a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter.

Due to the coordinated efforts of officers, two of the three suspects were apprehended shortly after the pursuit. Both suspects are juvenile males from Nashville and are now in custody facing charges related to the theft and ensuing chase. The car was stolen from the Hermitage area.

Despite an extensive search involving K9 units and a helicopter, the third suspect was never located. We want to assure our community that our Detectives are diligently following leads to locate and apprehend the third suspect.

The department commends the swift actions of all officers involved in this incident, including the assistance from Wilson County Sheriff’s Deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrol. We would also like to thank the community for their continued support and vigilance.

We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to Mt. Juliet. The investigation is ongoing.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Wilson County students return to school tomorrow, and motorists should pay attention to active school zones and buses. Officers will focus on motorists who disregard laws designed to protect children in school zones and will provide extra attention at designated routes to and from schools during the first few weeks. In addition to the reduced speed limits in school zones, officers will focus on handheld cell phone use in school zones, school bus stop-arm, texting while driving, seat belts, and child passenger safety laws.

“Every year during the first week of school, we all have to adjust to the new traffic patterns around schools,” stated Police Chief James Hambrick. “I just want to encourage everyone to please pay attention and be patient in their travels around school zones. In addition, everyone should follow the proper guidelines at each school for dropping off and picking-up students. Our officers will be out monitoring zones across the city.”

Throughout the school year, the department will keep an open line of communication with crossing guards so they can easily report unsafe drivers or any other safety issues within the city limits.

Digital radar speed signs have also been deployed to school zones to raise awareness. Mt. Juliet Police have three digital speed signs that display the speed of cars and visually warn drivers if they are driving above the speed limit.

Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s school website to become familiar with the traffic plans for drop-off and pick-up at each school. Wilson County School’s website is http://www.wcschools.com/. Motorists and students should follow the school’s designated traffic plan to properly pick up a student from school safely. Motorists are strongly encouraged not to park in nearby neighborhoods to circumvent the school’s traffic plan. The additional, unnecessary pedestrian traffic leads to additional road delays and potentially unsafe situations, and nearby neighborhood residents are also frustrated with the additional vehicular traffic.

To ensure our school zones are safe this school year, Mt. Juliet Police offer the following suggestions:

• Give yourself plenty of time in the morning! As traffic volumes and congestion on the roadways increase, so does the length of time it takes to travel to your destination. Giving yourself more time by leaving earlier reduces stress, increases awareness, and improves driving. Obey the posted speed limit signs and directional signs. This includes marked curbs. These signs and curb markings assist in the traffic flow into and out of the schools and assist in the safety of the students who walk and bike to school. One misplaced car can disrupt the traffic flow and the safety of our students.
• Be patient! Impatience leads to aggressive driving, rude or unwarranted behavior, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and it creates traffic gridlock. Everyone has the same goal: to get our children safely to and from school. Also, remember that the habits you exhibit in your driving and demeanor are typically passed on to your children when they start driving.
• If you are driving your children to school, have them ready to leave the car with all their belongings ready to go when you stop at the school. Backups and delays are caused when children have to get their backpacks and other items from a car’s trunk or back seat. Explore alternatives such as carpooling, ride-sharing, walking, or biking to school.
• Watch and obey the school crossing guards. Crossing guards are provided to assist with school traffic and the safe crossing of your students across the surrounding streets near each elementary school. Be on the lookout, be prepared to stop, and be ready to follow their directions so our children can get to and from school safely.

Stopping for a School Bus Law:

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – While officers were attempting to gain control of an armed suspect’s hands, the suspect’s handgun discharged from his waistband, causing a lower leg injury to the suspect. This afternoon around 5:30 p.m., at the Willow Creek apartment’s parking lot, an officer initiated a stop on an adult male who disregarded a stop sign in a vehicle without a license plate. During the interaction, officers discovered that the suspect was wanted out of Humphreys and Shelby County.

Officers noticed and told the suspect they could see a handgun in his waistband, and he was instructed not to reach for it. As officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he began to reach towards the handgun, which led to a struggle in the parking lot as officers worked to gain control of the suspect’s hands. The suspect’s handgun discharged during the struggle, which led to an injury to the suspect’s lower leg. After the shot, officers found the handgun still inside the suspect’s pants. An officer quickly applied a tourniquet to stop the suspect’s blood loss, and the suspect was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

An officer involved in the struggle suffered a serious back injury, and he was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Mt. Juliet Police Department’s investigative division is assisting with the investigation. During the incident, officers did not pull their firearms, and all were equipped with Bodyworn cameras.

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Event details, maps, and timelines are contained within this message.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police Department officers and volunteers are committed to ensuring safety, security, and efficient traffic flow during this Saturday’s Celebrate Mt. Juliet event at Charlie Daniels Park. As the community comes together to enjoy this exciting event, police and volunteer staff will have a strong presence throughout Charlie Daniels Park and surrounding areas, prioritizing the well-being of all attendees. They are available to provide assistance and address any concerns that may arise.

The department’s primary focus will be maintaining a safe and secure environment, allowing everyone to embrace the festivities fully. In support of this objective, the department asks community members to remember some safety tips:

1. Remain alert and report suspicious activity: The department urges attendees to stay vigilant and promptly report any suspicious behavior or activity to police officers present at the event. Our community’s assistance in keeping the community safe is invaluable.
2. Stay hydrated and take care of yourself: It is crucial to stay hydrated, especially during outdoor events. We encourage attendees to drink plenty of water and take regular breaks to prevent dehydration and ensure their well-being.

The department also recognizes the importance of efficient traffic management to enhance the overall experience. To minimize congestion and streamline traffic flow, they have worked closely with the Parks and Recreation Department to implement the following measures:

1. Designated parking areas: Specific parking lots have been allocated to accommodate the anticipated number of vehicles. Event staff will guide motorists to these designated parking areas. Please follow instructions and park only in authorized locations. Entering parking lots off of Woodridge Place will provide quicker access to parking.
2. Shuttles are available: Shuttles are provided throughout the different parking locations that attendees can ride to get to the event area at Charlie Daniels Park.
3. Observe traffic instructions: Pay close attention to traffic signage, cones, and directions provided by officers or event staff. Following their guidance will contribute to a smooth flow of vehicles and ensure a positive experience for all.

Mt. Juliet police officers and volunteers are here to serve. By working hand in hand with the community, Celebrate Mt. Juliet will be a resounding success. Real-time updates and important announcements related to the event will be available on our social media platforms and MJAlert texts (Register to receive MJAlert texts by texting “MJ” to the phone number “67283”. The department encourages all to connect to stay informed.

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Wilson County, Tenn. – On July 9, 2023, 20 years have passed since two of Wilson County’s finest law enforcement officers gave their lives to the community as they attempted to stop a dangerous, fleeing felon who had no care for anyone’s safety. Just after 9:00 a.m. on July 9, 2003, Sgt. Jerry Mundy (MJPD) and Dep. John Musice (WCSO) deployed spike strips to stop a criminal who fled to Mt. Juliet from Knoxville. That criminal saw the officers deploying the spikes, and she directed her car directly at them. Unfortunately, the officers could not run faster than the speeding car and were murdered on Interstate 40 in Mt. Juliet.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department and Wilson County Sheriff’s Office will honor their sacrifice this Sunday, July 9, and the community is invited to attend a Blue Candlelight Vigil at the Charlie Daniels Park community center gym at 8:45 p.m. (moved from the amphitheater due to weather). The memorial event will consist of prayer, remembrance, and honor.

Before the event, a law enforcement and family-only escort in a Sea of Blue will begin in Lebanon and end in Mt. Juliet. While the community cannot participate in the escort, those who want to show support to the fallen officers’ families can be along the route with American flags. The escort will begin at 7:45 p.m. travel from the fairgrounds past the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, continue down W. Baddour Pkwy to Hartmann Dr, and then continue to Interstate 40 West to Mt. Juliet Road, and then travel up Mt. Juliet Road to Charlie Daniels Parkway.

Mt. Juliet’s city hall, clock tower, police headquarters, and Mt. Juliet Road interstate bridge are lit blue throughout the week in their honor.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The largest fireworks show in Wilson County’s history will launch at 9:00 p.m. on July 4th from the Circle P Ranch, and the show can be viewed across much of central Mt. Juliet. Leading up to the show will be live music, inflatables, and food trucks starting at 4:00 p.m. at Circle P Ranch, which is on W. Division St near E. Main St. To ensure the event is safe and enjoyable for everyone, Mt. Juliet Police and Fire will be on site. The firework presentation, presented by Needham’s Nursery, Circle P Ranch, US Community Credit Union, and the City of Mt. Juliet, will begin around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023.

Premium, excellent viewing for the fireworks will be at Circle P Ranch, church parking along Tate Lane, the train depot, and parking lots near Mt. Juliet Rd and Division St. Good views also expand out to area parking lots along Mt. Juliet Rd from Old Lebanon Dirt Rd and Post Office. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for a good viewing location.

Interactive Event Map and Parking Areas:

Mt. Juliet’s public safety teams are expecting large attendance and increased traffic. Safety is always a top priority, and many police officers will be present during the event for patrols and traffic control. With any significant event, attendees should always be vigilant for suspicious activity. If anything suspicious is spotted, attendees are encouraged to say something and call police. To contact the police department’s non-emergency line, attendees can dial 311. Also, the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet will have extra firefighters near the firework launch site.

A traffic plan has been established, and advanced traffic signals will adapt to the increased traffic. In addition, officers will be directing traffic at some intersections to prioritize motorists leaving the show.

Please remember that our roadways will see an increase in traffic during the events, so minor delays should be expected. Personal fireworks, alcoholic beverages, barbecue grills, and parking on roadway shoulders and medians are prohibited.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – 10 years later, Mt. Juliet’s police officers continue strengthening relationships with community members over coffee at local, supporting businesses and organizations. The first Coffee with a Cop was at Chick-fil-A in Providence Marketplace on June 12, 2013, and the department will be celebrating the 10th anniversary at the same place this Thursday evening, June 15, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“I’m grateful that this program has been successful during my tenure as Chief of Police, and I have met so many new people, residents, and visitors through fellowship over coffee,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “We strive to be present for our community, and building relationships is a large part of what we do. When I retire at the end of the year, I know that Coffee with a Cop will continue strong. We have outstanding leadership to continue the vision and strong connections with our community.”

The Coffee With a Cop program is a non-traditional way to generate conversation between the police department and the community the department serves. This event allows everyone in the community to interact with Mt. Juliet’s police officers, including top Department leadership, to ask questions or address concerns in an informal setting. Mt. Juliet Police continue to receive requests to host a morning, lunch, or evening Coffee With a Cop, and department leadership will continue to fulfill those requests as the program remains strong.

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