Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Funeral Arrangements Update:

Escort:

The escort will leave Bond Memorial Funeral Home at Weston Drive at 8:05 a.m. on Saturday, January 9th, travel north to Lebanon Road and then travel west on Lebanon Road to the St. Stephen Catholic Community church. The community is invited to stand roadside to honor Steve Stepaniak and his service to the Mt. Juliet community.

Escort Route Map:

Visitation: Saturday, January 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Mass: Saturday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m.

Location for Visitation and Funeral Mass will be at St. Stephen’s Catholic Community church at 14544 Lebanon Road, Old Hickory, TN 37138. For those who plan to attend, mask use is mandatory.

The funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the St. Stephen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ststephencatholiccommunitytn/

Original Release:

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department suffered a heartbreaking loss overnight. Investigative Division civilian assistant, Steve Stepaniak, was found deceased at his Mt. Juliet residence this morning by his wife. Steve was 70-years-old and served as an employee in the Investigative Division as an administrative assistant and volunteered as a Community Service Officer. Before becoming an employee, he volunteered through the Department’s Citizens Police Academy Alumni program. He was honored as Civilian of the Year for 2019 and is a proud Veteran of the U.S. Navy.

“Steve was a great man who cared deeply about his family, community, and police department. He gave more than was ever expected in his paid role and volunteer role, and he loved helping others and serving the community. We will miss the joy and laughter his presence brought to any room,” stated Police Chief James Hambrick. “Our hearts and support are with his family, and we are ensuring they receive whatever support is needed.”

Before his passing, Steve was experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, and no further investigation is necessary. Details on funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases across Tennessee, the police department is taking additional measures to ensure the safety of staff and preserve public safety response capabilities. The Tennessee Department of Health reported that Tennessee now has the highest infection rate in the country, with more than 40% new cases above average reported and hospital capacity diminishing. The safety and well-being of those who live, work, and visit the Mt. Juliet community is the police department’s utmost concern. Therefore, the department must maintain essential police services to the community, and the department has taken the following steps to protect those we serve and our staff:

• Operations at Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters will be closed to the public at least until January 11, 2021. Victims of a crime will still have access to police assistance at headquarters if phone reporting is not possible.
• Community members who need to report past-occurred crimes, or other crimes which they were inclined to visit police headquarters in-person to report, should call the police department at 615-754-2550 to determine if an officer can assist over the phone, instead of in person.
• If a community member is experiencing an emergency, they should dial 911 and an officer will respond to assist. However, for some non-emergency situations, an officer may be able to help via the phone, or community members can file an online report for specific incidents such as lost property, destruction of property, civil disputes, financial crimes, theft, alcohol violations, or harassing calls/emails. Officers will continue to respond to in-progress incidents, any incident that requires evidence processing, and incidents requiring immediate police intervention.
• Community members can use the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s website at www.mjpd.org to access the Online Reporting System and follow the detailed instructions to see if their incident is reportable online. If anyone has anyone has questions about filing an online report, or if online reporting is not appropriate for their situation, they should contact the police department at 615-754-2550 for assistance.
• The department’s records and court clerk office will be closed to the public until further notice. If anyone needs a copy of a report, please call 615-754-2550 or visit the department’s website at www.mjpd.org. Staff members will make arrangements to mail or email the report.
• There is no traffic court scheduled during this closure, and all traffic school instruction is conducted online.
• All citation payment due dates have been placed on hold until further notice. Those who have due dates during the hold period should not worry. All in-person citation processing has ceased, and those affected will have an opportunity to satisfy their citation at a later date. Those who wish to pay online can continue to do so.
• If anyone calls 911 for an emergency, or the non-emergency dispatch number, 615-754-2550, they should understand that the communication dispatchers have been instructed to ask additional questions regarding possible Coronavirus exposure factors for specific instances. 
• The citizen ride-along program continues to be suspended until further notice.
• Officers continue to take COVID-19 precautions when interacting with community members on calls for service, for both the protection of the person(s) they are assisting, as well as for the officers themselves.

“Tennessee is experiencing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases, and just today, five members of our department have tested positive or are experiencing symptoms and are awaiting test results. I continue to strongly encourage everyone to take precautions to limit the spread of the virus”, stated Chief James Hambrick. “While taking precautions within the department, Mt. Juliet’s dedicated police officers and staff continue to work hard to keep our community safe.”

These measures are necessary for the community we serve. For our staff members to adequately provide the level of service to the community it expects, we must consider both the health of the community and our staff members.

These are important reminders on how you can protect your health:

• Wear a mask or face covering when out in public.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you feel ill. 
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and have been in close contact with a person known to have confirmed coronavirus.
• Stay informed and up to date with information directly from the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html), the Tennessee Department of Health (https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html), and Wilson County Emergency Management Agency’s (https://www.wilsonema.com/covid19/) websites.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Two Mt. Juliet police officers graduated with top honors from the Basic Police School at the East Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Academy in Greeneville, Tennessee this morning. Mt. Juliet’s newest police officers Jacob Berti and Samuel Lewis, along with 35 other law enforcement officers across Tennessee, took part in a graduation ceremony for Class 118 held at Walters State Community College.

Officer Berti served as the Class President and received the Dr. Wade B. McCamey Leadership Award. Before becoming a police officer, he grew up in Old Hickory and attended Donelson Christian Academy. He further graduated from the University of Tennesee – Chattanooga with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science.

Officer Lewis served as a Team Leader and received the Academic Award. Before becoming a police officer, he served in the United States Army in tactical medicine, further graduating from Wright State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

“On behalf of our department family, we are very proud of their achievement. They performed exceptionally well and represented the Mt. Juliet community in the highest regard. They will be wonderful servants to our community,” stated Police Chief James Hambrick

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade will affect traffic on the north end of N. Mt. Juliet Road, including Lebanon Road and E. Division Street near Mt. Juliet Road, during midday on Saturday, December 12, 2020. Starting at 10:45 a.m., the following stretch of roadways will be closed:

• N. Mt. Juliet Road, between E. Division Street and Lebanon Road
• Lebanon Road, between N. Mt. Juliet Road and Park Glen Drive
• E. Division St, between N. Mt. Juliet Road and Clemmons Road

Mt. Juliet’s residents and visitors should plan and be aware of the parade, which begins at 11:00 a.m. from the Mt. Juliet League Fields on Lebanon Road, travels down Mt. Juliet Road, and ends at the train station along E. Division St.

If you are attending the parade, the police department suggests that you arrive before the 10:45 a.m. street closures. This will allow plenty of time to find parking. If you are not attending the parade, you may want to avoid the Mt. Juliet Road corridor to reduce your frustration with the road closure and large traffic volume.

All participants and spectators should practice proper COVID-19 precautions. 

Parade Information: Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade Website

Parade Route Map: Google Map of Parade Route

Remember, after the parade, there will be a large amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic along Mt. Juliet Road in the north end of town. Take your time, and please be considerate. It is estimated that the parade traffic will be clear around 12:30 p.m.

Follow Mt. Juliet Police on Twitter @MtJulietPolice for live and active information about the parade & races as they happen.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet’s Retail Safety Initiative for the holiday shopping season begins this week, and officers will be providing extra attention in shopping areas as part of Operation Safe Shopper. Starting on Thanksgiving afternoon, Black Friday, and throughout the shopping season, more uniformed and undercover officers will be concentrated around Mt. Juliet’s Interstate 40 shopping destination. The initiative will run until Thursday, December 31, 2020.

Ultimately, the department wants residents and visitors to have a safe, enjoyable experience in and around Mt. Juliet’s shopping areas. The department will carry out:

• Increased patrols by uniformed officers
• Zero tolerance on shoplifting crimes, where offenders go straight to jail
• Mobile surveillance tower deployed in parking lots
• Undercover vehicles & officers blending in with the crowds
• Guardian Shield watching over the community for stolen vehicles, stolen plates, and wanted persons

Officers will also monitor traffic flow and traffic signals to ensure traffic is moving as best as possible. If any issues are discovered, officers will communicate with city traffic engineers to determine a quick solution.

Shopper Safety Tips:

• Follow CDC COVID-19 precautions.
• Report any suspicious or out-of-place behavior to police, immediately.
• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
• Park in well-lighted spaces, lock car doors, and place packages out of sight in the trunk or under seats.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card if possible.
• Carry purses close to the body, not dangling by the straps.
• Put wallets in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
• Supervise children and teach them to go to a police officer or security guard if they get lost or separated.
• Take a holiday inventory. The holidays are an excellent time to take photos or videos of items in your home

Parking Lot Safety Tips:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• If shopping at night, park in well-lit areas.
• Never leave your vehicle unlocked.
• When walking to your vehicle, look prepared by having your keys in your hand, your purse, and other packages close to you, and always be aware of what is around you.
• Never leave holiday packages or other valuable items visible inside your vehicle.
• If possible, shop with others and walk in groups. It is safer to have another person with you.
• If you see suspicious people or activity, go back into the store or to a populated area and contact the police immediately.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Additional Mt. Juliet police officers will report for duty to patrol neighborhoods with the potential of many engaged in Halloween-related activities. While it is not clear what level of participation the community will experience, officers will do their part to ensure a safe, enjoyable Halloween for all. 

Parents should be prepared and mindful of their child’s safety by following safety precautions– especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC recently published guidance to address trick-or-treating concerns for locations where COVID-19 cases are low and residents plan to participate. Standard guidance of proper social distancing, disinfecting hands often, and wearing a mask is very important and recommended. Those who are sick should not participate. 

Safer trick-or-treating alternatives include:

• Providing individually wrapped grab-n-go candy bags
• Setting up outdoors, on the lawn or end of the driveway
• Wear a cloth mask (Halloween-themed!)
• Maintain physical distance from other groups, be patient!
• Carry hand sanitizer and use it often 

CDC Guidance for Halloween Activities: CDC Halloween Guidance

For those who plan to participate in trick-or-treating activities, the department recommends doing so on Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Through the afternoon and night, patrol staff levels and presence in neighborhoods will be increased. However, police need residents’ help to ensure Mt. Juliet’s streets can be as safe as possible. Any unsafe mischief or driving behavior should be reported to the police department immediately so it can be stopped. Also, police will be monitoring parking on city streets. Visitors and residents should be mindful of where they park, so the roadway is not blocked.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are twice more likely to be in a fatal pedestrian accident on Halloween than any other day of the year. Parents should make sure their child’s costume is visible at night to motorists. There are several reasons why children are more likely to be hurt in pedestrian accidents, which include:

• They often choose to take the shortest route, which may mean darting out between parked cars then take the safer way of crossing at corners.
• They’re poor at evaluating potential traffic threats.
• They’re more likely to disregard their peripheral vision and are less attentive to their street surroundings.
• They tend to believe they’re indestructible and are more likely to take risks.
• They need to be told that some people driving cars will not slow down for them.
• They can’t cross streets as rapidly as adults.
• They may be distracted by other children’s costumes, behaviors, and home decorations.

Also, officers will be out monitoring sex offenders on Halloween. Under Tennessee law, any sex offender on parole or probation may not participate in any Halloween activity involving children. This activity would include leaving a porch light on, answering the door, or distributing candy. Parents may use the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s website at http://www.tbi.tn.gov/.

Reflective bracelets are available, now and through Halloween, at police headquarters from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.

In addition to people taking precautions due to the ongoing pandemic, the department wants to remind everyone of the following Halloween Health and Safety Tips: http://www.safekids.org/halloween.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police Department’s K9 Majlo (“My-low”) was recently diagnosed with a potentially career-ending injury, and the department is obtaining advanced care at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center to ensure his quality of life. Recently, Majlo’s partner, Officer Chris Barth, noticed that Majlo raised his rear right leg as if he was in pain. Once the possible injury was noticed, Majlo was transported to his local veterinarian to conduct an in-depth review. The veterinarian team revealed an internal tendon injury to the right hind leg. That original injury likely led to an internal tendon injury to his left hind leg as well.

“As you can imagine, we are all devasted about Majlo’s impacting injury. Ultimately, we want to ensure Majlo’s quality of life prevails. At the recommendation of his vet care team, we are seeking further advanced care from the University of Knoxville, who has an extensive history of treating working animals,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “Officer Barth and K9 Majlo have been such an awesome asset to the Mt. Juliet community, and their history of successful outcomes is a testament to their wonderful work. They both have contributed so much, and we will pray for the best possible outcome.”

It is unclear what event or moment caused Majlo’s original injury as an injury on a dog can remain unknown for some time. Since Majlo joined the department in 2017, Majlo’s capabilities and work history have been very athletic. He has forcefully apprehended actively resisting, dangerous criminals, tracked suspects through rugged terrain, tracked missing persons, and detected illegal narcotics. If all goes well at UT Knoxville and only if, Majlo can maintain his quality of life, Majlo’s career could be saved. He would continue in a non-athletic role for narcotics detection.

The department will keep the community updated on Majlo’s medical journey. In addition, the department is most appreciative of Majlo’s local veterinarian, Dr. Nicole Harris at Avenue Animal Hospital, who has and continues to be so gracious and caring of Majlo.

Previous stories about Majlo can be found here: https://mjpdnews.org/?s=majlo .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A traffic stop led to detectives discovering a stolen handgun and marijuana bagged for resale this afternoon. Around 5:35 p.m., Crime Suppression Unit detectives could smell a strong odor of marijuana while speaking with the driver, 18-year-old Austin Lucas, and two passengers, 18-year-old Cameron Rouse and 23-year-old Brandon Gorham.

Further investigation revealed Lucas had a handgun, digital scales, many plastic baggies, and several prepackaged bags of marijuana. Rouse was found to have a stolen handgun from Millersville, TN and a small bag of marijuana. Gorham was also found to have a handgun and a small bag of marijuana.

Lucas was charged with Possession of a Schedule VI Drug for Resale and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.

Rouse was charged with Possession of Stolen Property and Simple Possession of a Schedule VI drug.

Gorham was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Simple Possession of a Schedule VI drug.

All were booked into the Wilson County Jail.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An adult male and female were arrested yesterday after crashing a stolen truck into a guardrail and running away. Around 8:00 p.m. yesterday, an officer attempted to stop a Ford pick-up after the vehicle’s registration plate did not match. The truck failed to stop, and the officer did not pursue it. Moments later, officers spotted the same truck turning down a dead-end roadway and attempted to stop it again. During that interaction, the driver almost struck a patrol vehicle.

In an attempt to stop the dangerous driver, officers deployed spike strips to deflate the truck’s tires and were successful. The truck crashed into a guardrail at Mt. Juliet Road and Interstate 40, which led to both occupants running from the vehicle into a wooded area. The adult female passenger, 33-year-old Cassie Spann of White Bluff, was apprehended behind the Shell gas station. The adult male driver, 34-year-old Jonathon Clark of Dickson, ran to the Comfort Suites hotel, and he was arrested while attempting to hide behind an ice machine.

Further investigation revealed that the Ford pick-up was stolen from Houston County, TN on 7/16/2020. In addition, various needles were located in the truck, and Clark was driving on a revoked driver’s license and wanted out of Dickson County.

Jonathon Clark, 34, of Dickson

Clark was charged with Reckless Endangerment, Felony Evading, Theft of Property, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving on a Revoked Driver’s License.

Cassie Spann, 33, of White Bluff

Spann was charged with Misdemeanor Evading and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Both were booked into the Wilson County Jail.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers are prepared for Wilson County School students to head back to school next week, and the department’s traffic safety focus in school zones will begin. Every school year, extra attention is provided by officers in school zones and bus stop locations to ensure everyone is operating their vehicle safely. This attention will continue throughout the school year. In addition to the reduced speed limits in school zones, officers will focus on handheld phone use, school bus stop-arm, seat belt, and child passenger safety laws.

“The Mt. Juliet community will experience a different dynamic we are not familiar with. Mt. Juliet Middle School will support students from the tornado-destroyed Stoner Creek Elementary and West Wilson Middle School. Also, Green Hill High School is brand new, and that school will be accommodating additional students until both destroyed schools are rebuilt,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “Members of the Command Staff will be monitoring the different dynamics, and we are prepared to adjust resources and plans to accommodate the change. I ask that our community members familiarize themselves with the change, so we can ensure our new school zones are safe.”

Today, Chief James Hambrick, along with fellow staff members, reviewed and toured Green Hill High School with Principal Kevin Dawson and Wilson County School’s Safety Director Steve Spencer. The new school zone for the new high school was also reviewed. In addition to the department’s strong relationship with school leadership, the department continues to maintain an open line of communication with crossing guards so they can easily report unsafe drivers or any other safety issues within the city limits.

Along with unmarked traffic officers being deployed to school zones, digital radar speed signs will be placed to raise awareness. Mt. Juliet Police have four digital speed signs that display the speed of cars and visually warn drivers if they drive above the speed limit.

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

• 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/.
• 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 to reduces stress, increases your awareness, and improve your driving.
• Obey the posted speed limit signs and directional signs, including marked curbs. 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. Remember, everyone has the same goal: to get our children safely to and from school. Also remember, the habits you exhibit in your driving and demeanor are typically passed on to your children when they start driving.
• If you drive your children to school, have them ready to leave the car, with all of their belongings, when you come to a stop at the school. Backups and delays are caused when children have to get their backpacks and other items from the trunk or back seat of a car. Explore other alternatives such as carpool, 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 safely get to and from school.

Stopping for a School Bus Law:

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