Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet recorded its lowest overall crime rate in at least 25 years, according to newly released 2025 crime data reported through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s recently released Crime in Tennessee report.

Mt. Juliet’s overall crime rate for 2025 was 40.30 offenses per 1,000 residents, the lowest recorded rate in available data dating back to 2001. The milestone is especially significant when measured against Mt. Juliet’s tremendous growth. The city’s population has roughly tripled since 2001, growing from approximately 14,800 residents to more than 45,000 today. Despite that growth, crime has not followed the same trajectory. The 2025 crime rate was 46.5% lower than Mt. Juliet’s historical high of 75.31 in 2006, 40.8% lower than the rate recorded in 2001, and 23.1% lower than in 2010.

“This is good news for our community, but more importantly, it represents real people who were not victimized by crime,” said Mt. Juliet Police Chief Tyler Chandler. “Mt. Juliet has grown tremendously, with more residents, businesses, visitors, traffic, and activity than ever before, yet our crime rate is at its lowest recorded level in at least 25 years. That does not happen by accident. It reflects dedicated officers, proactive police work, strong partnerships, engaged residents, and a community that continues to make public safety a priority.”

Fewer Property Crimes Despite a Much Larger City

Only 694 property crimes were reported in Mt. Juliet during 2025.

That compares with:

• 887 in 2017
• 960 in 2018
• 964 in 2020
• 694 in 2025

Mt. Juliet experienced 270 fewer property crimes in 2025 than in 2020, a 28% reduction in the actual number of offenses despite substantial population growth during that period. Compared with 2018, there were 266 fewer property crimes, a reduction of nearly 28%. The city’s property crime rate has fallen nearly 67% from its historical peak.

Crimes Against Persons Continue Historic Decline

Crimes Against Persons also reached historically low levels. Only 228 Crimes Against Persons were reported in Mt. Juliet during 2025.

For comparison:

• 340 in 2006
• 328 in 2019
• 318 in 2020
• 228 in 2025

There were 112 fewer Crimes Against Persons in 2025 than in 2006, representing a 32.9% reduction in the actual number of offenses. The per-capita rate of Crimes Against Persons has fallen by more than 71% from its historical peak. Perhaps one of the clearest examples of Mt. Juliet’s long-term public safety progress can be seen by comparing today with 2001. In 2001, with a population of approximately 14,800, Mt. Juliet recorded 247 Crimes Against Persons. In 2025, with a population of approximately 45,200, the city recorded only 228. That means that despite Mt. Juliet having roughly three times as many residents today, fewer Crimes Against Persons occurred in 2025 than occurred nearly a quarter-century ago.

Crimes Directly Affecting People and Property Down More Than Two-Thirds

When Crimes Against Persons and Property Crimes are considered together, providing a clearer picture of offenses directly affecting victims and their property, Mt. Juliet’s 2025 rate was among the lowest ever recorded. The combined rate of crimes against people and property has fallen by more than two-thirds from its historical peak.

The historic crime numbers also come during a period of strong proactive police activity. Mt. Juliet officers continue to identify wanted individuals, intercept stolen vehicles, recover illegal firearms and dangerous drugs, and apprehend offenders attempting to enter or travel through the community. Officers remain focused on making Mt. Juliet a difficult place for those committing crimes to operate, hide, or simply pass through unnoticed. The numbers continue to show just how important that proactive work is. During the first six months of 2026, Mt. Juliet officers apprehended 342 wanted individuals, with 88% being non-residents of the city.

“Low crime does not mean there is less work to do,” Chandler said. “In many ways, it means the work is having the impact we want it to have. Our officers remain highly proactive because preventing the next victim is always better than responding after someone has already been harmed.”

The Department credits a combination of proactive policing, intelligence-led enforcement, technology, traffic enforcement, investigative work, regional law enforcement partnerships, community involvement, support from the community, and the daily commitment of officers and support staff for contributing to Mt. Juliet’s continued public safety success.

“We are proud of the results, but we will never become comfortable because of them,” Chandler added. “Every crime represents someone affected, and every victim matters. Our responsibility is to keep pushing forward, keep adapting, and keep working to make an already safe community even safer. Most importantly, we are incredibly grateful for the men and women who serve this city and for a community that strongly supports their work. Mt. Juliet is a special place, and protecting the quality of life our residents and families enjoy remains one of our greatest responsibilities.”

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s annual Crime in Tennessee report compiles crime data submitted by law enforcement agencies across the state through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System, which can be found here: TBI 2025 Crime in Tennessee Report .

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. — A handgun, stolen over 6 years ago in Georgia, was recovered this evening in possession of an 18-year-old Nashville man. A traffic stop for a Move Over Law violation on Lebanon Rd near Lookout Drive led to the discovery on Friday, August 28.

During the stop, officers discovered the 18-year-old Nashville man was in possession of the stolen handgun and marijuana, and a 21-year-old Nashville man was also found in possession of marijuana.

The Glock handgun was reported stolen in Dekalb County, Georgia on 4/5/2020. 

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. — A stolen vehicle is headed back to its victim, and a man wanted for felony theft is in jail after another #MJGuardianShield alert helped our officers make an apprehension this afternoon — Thursday, August 27.

The vehicle had been stolen from Goodlettsville two days ago. This afternoon, as it entered Mt. Juliet from Nashville on Lebanon Road, a license plate reader alerted our officers, who quickly responded and began searching the area.

An officer soon spotted the stolen vehicle parked near Lebanon Road and Devonshire Drive. Officers moved in and apprehended the driver without incident.

Further investigation revealed the driver, a 20-year-old Nashville man, was also wanted by Nashville authorities on an outstanding felony theft warrant.

Criminal activity does not stop at city limits. Those who steal in one community can quickly travel into another, which is exactly why proactive policing, responsible use of technology guided by strict policy, and strong partnerships across jurisdictional lines matter.

Our officers remain focused on making Mt. Juliet a difficult place for those committing crimes to operate, hide, or pass through.

These results continue to reinforce what our data consistently shows. During the first six months of 2026, Mt. Juliet officers apprehended 342 wanted individuals, with 88% being non-residents of our city.

Those numbers tell an important story. Much of the criminal activity our officers encounter originates outside Mt. Juliet. Through proactive policing, high officer visibility, strategic patrol operations, strong investigative work, and responsible use of license plate readers, our team continues to identify threats, apprehend offenders, and ensure criminals are not successful in our community or have any opportunity to harm our community members.

Keeping Mt. Juliet one of Tennessee’s safest cities takes a committed team, strong partnerships, and the continued support of a community that values proactive public safety.

For information, safeguards, law, policy, and privacy protections on how Mt. Juliet’s license plate readers protect our community, please visit: https://www.mtjuliet-tn.gov/1561/Guardian-Shield-License-Plate-Reader-Pro

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A three-time convicted felon, already out on bond for organized retail theft, was caught stealing again in Mt. Juliet thanks to an officer who was paying attention.

On Sunday, August 16 afternoon, an officer noticed suspicious behavior at Walmart and saw the individual leave in a vehicle. Using the in-car computer, the officer checked the publicly visible license plate and confirmed the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. The system also provided a photo of the registered owner, allowing the officer to visually confirm the person behind the wheel before making the traffic stop.

Once the officer confirmed the driver was unlawfully driving on a suspended license, the vehicle was stopped. What began as proactive police work quickly uncovered more.

Further investigation revealed the driver, a 40-year-old Nashville woman, had just committed a theft from Walmart. The shoplifting had not even been reported yet when our officer discovered it.

Officers also learned she was currently out on bond for a previous organized retail theft charge and is a three-time convicted felon with a criminal history that includes aggravated burglary, robbery, and felony shoplifting.

That’s proactive policing. Paying attention. Knowing what to look for. Using the tools available to us responsibly. And stepping in when something isn’t right.

We’re incredibly grateful for the vigilance of our officers and their commitment to protecting Mt. Juliet every single day. Keeping our community one of Tennessee’s safest doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a dedicated team, strong partnerships, proactive police work, and a community that stands behind its officers.

And we hear that support loud and clear.

We know the overwhelming majority of our community appreciates the work our officers do and values the safe, wonderful community we all get to enjoy. MJ, please keep the encouragement coming. It means more to our officers than you probably realize, and we’re incredibly thankful to have a community that has our back while we work hard to protect yours.

After a crash early Monday, August 10 morning, officers quickly identified and apprehended a driver who fled the scene after making an unlawful turn and striking another motorist on Golden Bear Gateway.

Before the suspect fled, the victim was able to quickly take a photo of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate, giving officers an important lead. MJPD officers immediately began investigating and were able to identify the driver, a 36-year-old Nashville man.

Metro-Nashville Police were contacted, and their officers responded to the man’s residence and took him into custody. He was then transferred to MJPD officers and booked into the Wilson County Jail.

Within two hours of the crash, officers had identified the man responsible and ensured he was held accountable for striking another motorist and fleeing the scene. He told officers he fled because he did not have a valid driver’s license.

Every day, our officers work hard to prevent crime, protect our community, and ensure those who choose to commit crimes in Mt. Juliet are held accountable. The reality is that the majority of criminal suspects our officers encounter do not live in our city, which means offenders can come into Mt. Juliet and leave just as quickly. That dynamic makes proactive policing, strong investigative work, responsible use of technology, and close partnerships with surrounding law enforcement agencies especially important in helping us quickly locate those responsible and hold them accountable.

We are grateful for the victim’s quick thinking, the assistance of Metro-Nashville Police, and our officers’ continued vigilance and commitment to protecting our community. Keeping Mt. Juliet one of Tennessee’s safest cities takes a dedicated team, strong partnerships, and the continued support of a community that values proactive public safety.

A Gordonsville woman had her stolen 2021 Hyundai SUV recovered within an hour after a suspect’s crime spree crossed into Mt. Juliet on Monday, August 10.

It all began shortly after midnight this morning on I-40 in Smith County, when a deputy spotted a vehicle displaying a false license plate. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled before crashing on Grant Highway in Gordonsville. The suspect ran from the crash and was not located during the initial search. The abandoned vehicle had a damaged and punched ignition, along with a broken door handle.

Later around 8:15 a.m., a 2021 Hyundai SUV was reported stolen from a driveway on Bob Davis Lane in Gordonsville.

Around 9:30 a.m., #MJGuardianShield alerted officers on the stolen SUV’s license plate when the stolen Hyundai entered Mt. Juliet on Lebanon Road near West Elementary School. Officers immediately responded and began searching the area.

The SUV was located a short time later on Lebanon Road near Benders Ferry Road. Officers contained the vehicle in a parking lot and safely took the suspect, a 20-year-old Celina man, into custody.

The stolen SUV was recovered for its owner, along with the victim’s purse.

Every day, our officers work hard to prevent crime, protect our community, and ensure those who commit crimes in Mt. Juliet are held accountable. The reality is that many of the criminal suspects our officers encounter do not live in our city. They can enter Mt. Juliet and leave just as quickly.

That is why proactive policing, strong investigative work, responsible use of technology, and close partnerships with surrounding law enforcement agencies are so important. Together, those efforts help our officers identify criminal activity, quickly locate those responsible, recover stolen property, and hold offenders accountable before they can cause harm in our community.

Teamwork brought a dangerous driver’s reckless run to an end overnight after Metro-Nashville Police officers spotted his extremely reckless driving and attempted to stop him. Instead of stopping, he fled from officers at extremely high speeds with no headlights.

Around 12:41 a.m., our officers were alerted that MNPD was pursuing the vehicle eastbound on I-40 toward Mt. Juliet. Officers strategically positioned themselves along the interstate in an effort to stop the driver, but he continued to flee.

The suspect exited at Highway 109 and turned back toward Nashville. With MNPD Aviation providing real-time location updates from above, one of our officers successfully deployed a spike system just past the Mt. Juliet Road interchange, deflating the vehicle’s tires.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop near the I-40/I-24 split, where the driver, an unlicensed 20-year-old Nashville man, was safely taken into custody.

He now faces charges in Nashville and Wilson County related to his extremely reckless driving and felony evading.

We’re grateful for the teamwork between our officers and MNPD that brought this dangerous situation to a safe end. Crime and dangerous behavior don’t stop at city or county lines, and neither does the teamwork required to keep our communities safe.

A convicted felon’s multi-state retail theft crime spree came to an end in Mt. Juliet this evening after #MJGuardianShield alerted officers to a vehicle connected to felony theft investigations in multiple states.

The alert was received as the vehicle entered Mt. Juliet from Nashville on Lebanon Road. Officers immediately responded and began searching the area as the Advanced Response Communication Center confirmed the plate was associated with a felony-involved criminal vehicle.

A short time later, officers located the vehicle on Lebanon Road near Mt. Juliet Road. Officers completed a visual verification of the license plate then contained it in a parking lot and safely took the suspect, a 44-year-old California man, into custody before he could reach his next reported target, the Walgreens at Lebanon Road and Mt. Juliet Road.

Investigators learned the man had been traveling across multiple states committing organized retail thefts, primarily stealing large quantities of makeup from stores such as Walgreens and CVS.

More than $5,000 worth of suspected stolen makeup was recovered from the vehicle, along with burglary tools and marijuana.

The investigation also uncovered connections to several active theft cases in other states, including multiple jurisdictions in Missouri. In several of those cases, investigators knew the vehicle involved in the crimes but had not yet identified the suspect. His apprehension in Mt. Juliet has now provided those agencies with an identified suspect as they continue their investigations.

The man is also a convicted felon with previous California convictions that include multiple robberies and assault with a deadly weapon.

We are grateful this crime spree ended here before a business in our community could be victimized.

Criminals do not recognize city or state boundaries. They can enter our community and leave just as quickly. That is why proactive policing, strong investigative work, responsible use of technology, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies near and far are so important.

Our officers remain focused on identifying criminal activity, stopping those responsible, recovering stolen property, and protecting our residents, visitors, and businesses from those who come into Mt. Juliet intending to commit crime.

For factual information, safeguards, law, policy, and privacy protections on how Mt. Juliet’s license plate readers protect our community, please visit our transparency portal here: https://www.mtjuliet-tn.gov/1561/Guardian-Shield-License-Plate-Reader-Pro