Topic: Crime

Park cameras should come with oversight

January 18, 2008 |

Graffiti and vandalism are problems in our city, and steps should be taken to halt it.

We see no issues with the city purchasing a couple of mobile surveillance camera systems to be used in parks and other areas for which a documented history of problems can be shown, such as at the train station. Clarksville Online believes that both the park rangers and city police department should have their own mobile systems with which to target crime hot spots.

These systems which can run from a few thousand to a over a hundred thousand dollars. The park rangers preferred system has a price tag of $9,600.

The cost of these systems can be more than paid for by their preventing additional acts of wanton destruction. «Read the rest of this article»

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Robbers target female shoppers in St. B

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 12, 2007 |

Shoppers in the St. Bethlehem area are being urged to use caution in the wake of a series of attempted robberies involving shoppers returning to their cars.

Detective Michael Patterson is presently investigating three robberies that have occurred in the St. Bethlehem area. All three robbery attempts involved women who were alone at the time of the incidents. The suspect’s car (shown at left) was caught on security camera and released by police.

On Friday, December 7, 2007, in the parking lot of Kohl’s, 2840 Wilma Rudolph Blvd, a female that was at her vehicle was approached by a black male, wearing a thick nylon jacket, with fur around the neck area. This male attempted to enter her vehicle; however, she had her doors locked and drove off. «Read the rest of this article»

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Stray bullet from Wal-Mart shooting kills beloved coach

By David W. Shelton | June 26, 2007 |

How will our community respond to this tragedy?

The Leaf-Chronicle released information from “a friend of the family” that identified the victim of yesterday’s shooting. Northwest High School coach Willard Ross was gunned down today while shopping at the fireworks stand. People in two vehicles exchanged gunfire in the Fort Campbell Blvd. Wal-Mart parking lot. A bullet reportedly struck the beloved coach and teacher, killing him.

So far, there has not been any official report from the Clarksville Police Department regarding the incident. Police had blocked several cars from leaving the parking lot, and has obtained at least partial license plate numbers of the vehicles involved in the gunfight. «Read the rest of this article»

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High oil and gas prices, a sign of market manipulation?

By Bill Larson | July 26, 2006 |

$55,000 per minute or $7.27 billion. That what the profits for oil giant BP in their second quarter breaks down to. Profits for BP are up over 30% from last year, a record high for them in any single quarter.

In Kuwait, government financial assets have reached $166 billion, mostly due to the their record oil profits. So, they have issued plans to give each citizen of the country a gift, of approximately $690 US dollars each. Kuwait has had a surplus for each of the past seven fiscal years of more than 50 billion dollars a year. They are also headed for record revenues for this year as well. «Read the rest of this article»

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Grand jury indictments handed down for the murders of Juan and Thomas Vasquez

By Bill Larson | July 8, 2006 |

Joint Press Release by the Clarksville Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department - July 6, 2006, Sheriff Norman Lewis and Police Chief Mark Smith

Following an extensive investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarksville Police Department into the murders of Thomas and Juan Vasquez, the agencies announced that Sheriff’s Investigator Larry Hodge and Clarksville Police Detective Alan Charvis presented their cases to the Montgomery County Grand Jury on Wednesday, July 5, 2006. The Grand Jury returned indictments and warrants for the arrest of Chinu Kim for the murders of Thomas and Juan Vasquez. «Read the rest of this article»

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The Legacy of Heroes

By David W. Shelton | July 1, 2006 |

A few weeks ago, I wrote of how my childhood was colored in the pages of comic books and how the best heroes I imagined were in those colored panels. I would imagine how those stories would be so cool if they were real.

But like any fantasy, I had to come to a realization that those heroes in colored tights and flashy capes would never materialize. Sure, they’d come close. Comic books have made some really great movies in the last thirty years. Some of the more notable successes of the panel-to-big-screen transfer are Superman: The Movie, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Batman, Batman Begins, and this year’s Superman Returns.

I had the great pleasure of watching Superman Returns with my two best friends from childhood. We were once again those three crazy boys as we watched the opening credits fly past on the screen. It was a chance to be a child again. And we were children in awe of the hero as he saved the day and carried on his legacy. Not to spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it, we see him save a Boeing 777, a space shuttle, a number of cars and falling signs, and the damsels in distress.

But like most heroes, Superman is alone. The character is remembered for his impact far more than his flashy blue tights. This is a character that is recognized across the world as a symbol for idealism.

But symbols are sometimes overshadowed by real people whose lives are reflected in those they have touched. These people—living, flesh and blood people—are examples of the best that humanity has to offer, warts and all. One such person was a soft-spoken person by the name of Juan Julian Vasquez. «Read the rest of this article»

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A community united in grief.

By Bill Larson | June 30, 2006 |

Clarksville came together today, to recognize and celebrate the lives of two of it’s citizens. We came together representatives of every race, creed, and walk of life, united by our mutual respect, friendships, and love for Juan Julian Vasquez, Sr and Thomas Leon Vasquez. Though their lives were cut short, they left their indelible mark on the city and the community they loved.

Clarksville should take steps to memorialize Juan Julian Vasquez Sr and the contributions he made towards the unity of our city during his tenure as the vice chairman of the Human Relations Commission. «Read the rest of this article»

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State of Tennessee sues to remove Mayor of Coopertown from office

By Bill Larson | June 28, 2006 |

Update 07/14/06: Danny J. Crosby was suspended as the Coopertown Mayor pending a November proceeding which will determine whether he should be permanently removed from his office, due to the allegations which the state has made against him. The allegations includes the use racial slurs and ethnic profiling in traffic enforcement.

The State of Tennessee has sued to remove Danny J. Crosby as the Mayor of Coopertown, Tennessee.

Many Clarksville, Tennessee residents have learned the hard way about this sleepy little town of 3,176 residents. The town operates several infamous speed traps on Interstate 24, U.S. 431, and State highway 49. The city’s police budget has nearly tripled, from $155,880 during the last year to $451,550 this fiscal year. The town budget plans on between $400,000 and $800,000 in traffic court revenues, comprising over one third of the city budget. This percentage is much higher than that of many larger U.S. cities. «Read the rest of this article»

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