Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Washington, D.C. – A Mt. Juliet Police Department Lieutenant and Corporal attended a briefing at the White House on 21^st Century Policing to help strengthen the trust between communities and law enforcement. Lieutenant Tyler Chandler and Corporal James Christensen attended the White House briefing on September 28, 2016. The two were among a group of law enforcement officials from across the nation, whose agencies were specifically invited to participate in the briefing on policing best practices.

Lieutenant Tyler Chandler

Corporal James Christensen

In 2014, President Obama launched a task force on 21^st Century Policing, which was designed to identify best practices and assist police departments in strengthening trust and collaboration with their communities. In May of last year, the task force released a report that included 59 recommendations for law enforcement agencies. Those recommendations were organized into six main topic areas: building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, and officer safety and wellness.

The series of briefings, hosted by the White House in cooperation with the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, were established to assist local law enforcement agencies in learning how to implement the task force’s recommendations.

“I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to attend the briefing at the White House,” Chandler said. “It is certainly important for our department to be innovative and stay on top of the best policies and practices in law enforcement so we can ensure we are serving the Mt. Juliet community as best as possible.”

At the briefing, Chandler and Christensen heard from experts about officer safety and wellness, implicit bias, and using social media. In addition, they received information on the President’s Police Data Initiative, which enables police departments to collect and proactively publish data on policing activities in their community. The department has committed to the initiative and plans to openly publish data on employee demographics, use of force, and community engagement activities.

John Matthews, Director of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Speaks at the Briefing on Officer Safety and Wellness

“I’ve reviewed the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing,” Police Chief James Hambrick said. “I plan on meeting with the department’s leadership team soon to discuss the task force’s recommendations and evaluate how they can be applied at our department. It appears that our department is already ahead with many of the recommendations.”

The Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing is available online here: Final Report

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Detectives are working to identify suspects who broke into a gas station and stole multiple cartons of cigarettes. Officers were summoned to Shell, located at 14422 Lebanon Road after an audible burglary alarm activated around 4:25 a.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2016 . Officers quickly arrived on the scene to find the front door’s glass was busted out and multiple cartons of cigarettes stolen.

Detectives responded to the scene to process and collect evidence. Video surveillance captured a potential suspect vehicle, which is described as a silver or tan 2003-2006 Chevrolet Silverado, extended cab, with a tool box in the bed. There is also a large dent on the rear of the driver’s side. Detectives also believe that there were two suspects, one middle-aged white male and one young-adult white male. Investigators hope someone in the community may have an idea of who is responsible for this crime.

Anyone with any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A wanted man is in-custody after taking off on a traffic stop and leading police on a short car pursuit out of Mt. Juliet and into Antioch. On Tuesday, September 6, 2016 around 1:48 a.m., an officer stopped a Pontiac Bonneville for speeding on S. Mt. Juliet Road near Central Pike. As the officer approached the car to speak to the driver, the driver took off southbound on S. Mt. Juliet Road.

During pursuit the officers also realized the vehicle registration did not match with the vehicle, and the six minute pursuit stopped in the 3700 block of Seasons Drive in Antioch. Once the pursuit stopped, the driver, identified as Shannon Chadwick, 48, of Madison, got out of the car and appeared to surrender to officers. However, he attempted to evade officers again by running away, but officers quickly caught up with him. An officer used a taser on Chadwick to stop his resistive behavior and take him into custody. An adult male passenger in the car complied with officers throughout the incident, and he was not charged.

Further investigation revealed that Chadwick had a revoked driver’s license and was wanted out of Smyrna for a Failure to Appear on a Felony Theft of Merchandise case. Officers also discovered that he was in possession of  heroin and drug paraphernalia, which included hypodermic needles, scales, pipes, and spoons.

Shannon Chadwick. 48, of Madison

Chadwick was transported to a local hospital to receive care for an injury he sustained prior to his involvement with police. After being treated, he was transported to the Wilson County Jail, charged with Driving on a Revoked Driver’s License, 2 Counts of Felony Evading, Reckless Endangerment, Resisting Arrest, Simple Possession of a Schedule III drug, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The armed subject incident on Faulkner Lane has ended peacefully after police received a call about a man threatening to harm himself. On Friday, September 2, 2016 around 6:00 p.m., Mt. Juliet police dispatch received a call from a third party regarding an armed 68-year-old man at a home in the 150 block of Faulkner Lane.

Once officers arrived on the scene to check on the man, he came out of the home with a rifle and threatened to harm himself. The man also requested officers to shoot him multiple times while he was holding the rifle. At one point, he went back into the home and fired one shot from the rifle.

In an effort to ensure the man’s well-being was held at a top priority, officers continued to speak to the man during this delicate situation. The man came out of the home, unarmed, after 25 minutes of initial contact with officers. Thankfully, no one was harmed during this incident, and the man will be receiving the care he needs.

This was an intense, rapidly developing situation, and the police department is thankful for the understanding displayed by residents during this moment.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – City of Mt. Juliet public safety officials were informed by the Tennessee Department of Health and Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (WEMA) today about the first travel-related case of Zika virus in the area. An individual tested positive for the virus following travel to an area where active mosquito transmission of Zika is currently taking place and travel advisories have been issued. There have been no locally-transmitted cases of Zika in the Mt. Juliet area or Tennessee as of today; however, this case serves as a reminder to everyone that precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of Zika.

“Though there has been local spread of Zika by mosquitoes in areas of South Florida, we have not identified any cases of Zika spread by mosquitoes in Tennessee. The people who have tested positive got the virus from traveling to other places where Zika virus is more widespread. However, the mosquitoes here in Middle Tennessee may be able to spread the Zika virus if they bite someone who has the virus, and then bite someone else,” stated Medical Doctor Deidra Parrish, Regional Medical Director for the Tennessee Department of Health, in a letter to area Mt. Juliet residents.

After the case was confirmed, members from the Tennessee Department of Health and WEMA went door-to-door this morning within a 200-yard radius, recommended treatment distance, of the inflected individual’s residence to inform the community about the confirmed case. Officials visited residents and left prevention information packets at homes along Timber Lake Drive, Timber Ridge Court, and Timber Oak Drive in the Timber Trail neighborhood.

Copy of Packet Delivered to Neighbors

Members from the TN Department of Health Going Door-to-Door Today

Information Packet Distributed

Avoiding mosquitoes is the best was to prevent Zika virus infection and to prevent other illnesses spread by mosquitoes. Common symptoms of Zika virus infection are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), lasting from several days to one week. The following prevention methods are highly encouraged:

• Apply EPA-approved insect repellent. (Follow manufacturer’s instructions)
• Wear pants and long-sleeve shirts that cover exposed skin. In warmer weather, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers exposed skin.
• Use screens or close windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
• “Tip and Toss” – Remove standing water in and around the home. This includes water in cans, toys, tires, plant saucers, and an0y container that can hold water.
• Cover trash cans or containers where water can collect.
• To avoid infecting local mosquitoes, people who travel to areas with active Zika transmission should apply insect repellent every time they go outside for at least three weeks after they return to Tennessee – and longer if they develop an illness that could be Zika.

For question regarding this event, or if anyone develops symptoms over the next two months, please contact the Tennessee Department of Health at (615) 650-7000 for information and to be evaluated or go see your healthcare provider.

More information on the Zika virus and ways to prevent its spread can be found at the Tennessee Department of Health’s website at https://www.tn.gov/health/topic/zika-virus .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A man is in jail after attempting to evade police in a pickup truck after an officer tried to pull him over for a traffic violation. On Tuesday, August 30, 2016 around 8:00 p.m. a Mt. Juliet police officer watched a pickup truck make an illegal turning movement along Lebanon Road. When the officer attempted the stop the truck, the driver did not stop and drove recklessly through a neighborhood.

After attempts to evade the officer failed, the driver made the decision to stop after turning on Teresa Drive, which is a dead-end street. When contact was made with the driver, identified as Terrance Rice, 43, of Old Hickory, officers noticed an odor of marijuana about his person. A pack of rolling papers was also discovered in the truck.

Terrance Rice, 43, of Old Hickory

Rice was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Felony Evading Arrest, Driving on a Revoked Drivers License – 2^nd Offense, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Upon checking on a motorist, parked on the side of Lebanon Road, a Mt. Juliet police officer discovered a man that was reported missing in Nashville. On Sunday, August 28, around 7:00 p.m., Officer Cameron Porter observed an SUV parked on the side of Lebanon Road near North Greenhill Road. When Porter stopped to check on the motorist, she discovered an 85-year-old man, who was reported 5 hours earlier as a missing-endangered person due to his age and a medical condition.

The missing person report was filed with Metro-Nashville Police, who entered the man’s personal and vehicle information into a national database. When Porter queried the SUV’s vehicle registration, she was alerted that the vehicle was connected to a missing person. Medics with Wilson County Emergency Management Agency responded to the scene to evalate the man, and they transported him to a local hospital as a precaution. Police officers and animal control cared for the man’s dog until it could be reunited with a family member.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Deputy Chief Michael Mullins has graduated from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Leadership Academy. After two weeks of extensive training, meant to enhance the leadership skills for Tennessee law enforcement executives, Mullins graduated last Friday after successfully completing the program. 

The academy, organized by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, featured well-known speakers from around the world. Mullins was exposed to a variety of topics, which included crisis management, presentation skills, proactive leadership strategies, and diversity in law enforcement. The training was offered at no cost to the department. 

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