Topic: law enforcement

New Tennessee laws are in effect

July 7, 2009 |

Despite tight revenues, state finishes fiscal year on schedule, lawmakers save jobs, education programs. (See complete text below of newly published Public Chapters of the Tennessee Code Annotated.)

NASHVILLE – While several other states struggle to close out the fiscal year ending Wednesday, Tennessee has already published new laws passed during its recently completed legislative session.

“We didn’t have a $24 billion shortfall in revenue like the legislators in California are struggling with, but it was still a tight budget year in Tennessee,” Senator Lowe Finney of Jackson, incoming chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said.

Still, we were able to protect our better schools program – pre-K in particular – and we can move ahead with projects that will put Tennesseans back to work.

That’s good for our families, our hometown economies and our state revenue. As more jobs begin to open up – thanks to projects like the West Tennessee industrial megasite – we can build a stable tomorrow for Tennesseans.

Among the laws now in effect:

• Increased energy efficiency is now required in state buildings and vehicles.
• Sex offenders are prohibited from being within 1,000 feet of certain places where children are likely to gather.
• Tennessee driver’s licenses now print birthdates larger to make them easier for retailers to read.
• Vending machines installed on state property after July 1 must use energy efficient lighting, and the new lighting must be installed on any that are repaired.

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Public Notice: Justice Assistance Grant Public Comment session

April 15, 2009 |

The City of Clarksville and Montgomery County intend to submit a joint application for the 2009 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $486,980, with the funds to be shared $219,141 to the County and $267,839 to the City to be used for traditional law enforcement and crime prevention activities. Any person wishing to make a comment regarding use of funds is invited to attend a public comment period April 30th, 2009 at 1:00 pm.  This session will be held downstairs in the patrol briefing room at The Clarksville Police Department, 135 Commerce St., Clarksville, Tennessee.

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Kick crime to the curb

By Christine Anne Piesyk | June 27, 2008 |

I’ve been looking over the two years’ worth of notes I’ve kept for story ideas, all rooted in what I have observed within the Montgomery County boundaries. From a distance, a temporary vantage point in the northeast, and the rest of the time from the porch of my home in Clarksville, I’ve followed the shootings and killings and robberies in Clarksville, the ones that happen in the dead of night, the ones that happen in broad daylight in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and a string of crimes in between. Crimes of inebriation or addiction, crimes of passion or hate, crimes of despair, crimes of rage, crimes rooted in poverty and need, crimes anchored in greed Am I the only one not surprised?

I feel the strongest sympathy and sadness for the families, the residents involved, the innocent bystanders with lives sometimes forever shattered. But I do believe this escalation in violent crime is a tragedy waiting to happen, one that will repeat itself many more times if the city, the schools, the police and all of us — everyday citizens — don’t become involved in our community, if we fail to stand behind a call to get tough and enforce the laws already on the books, and toughen up the sentencing and cut off the “deals” that spew offenders back onto the streets with minimal sentences and penalties too easily shrugged off. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

House Democrat Review for 03/27/2008

By Tennessee Democrats | March 29, 2008 |

The House Democrat Review is a weekly feature that gives Tennesseans an in-depth look at what our Democratic state legislators have been working on this week, and a glimpse into what’s planned for the coming week at our state house.

Precious Metals Theft Bill Overwhelmingly Passes Out of House
New Legislation brings much needed regulation and tougher penalties

NASHVILLE (Mar. 20) – This week the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that brings new regulations to the scrap metal industry and tougher penalties on violators.

“With the price of copper going up over 400% in just five years, scrap metal theft has become the new way to score big bucks,” said Chairman Mike McDonald (D-Portland), prime sponsor of the legislation. “This new legislation will significantly limit a thief’s ability to sell the metal he’s stolen and, if he still tries to do it, we’ll be able to track him down pretty quickly.”

Under the new legislation, scrap metal dealers who buy and sell in precious metals may not buy or otherwise acquire metal from anyone who does not present a valid state or federally issued photo ID and may not sell to anyone under 18. «Read the rest of this article»

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Nashville Kurdish Gang Suffers Major Disruption, Denies Police Label

By Turner McCullough Jr. | July 1, 2007 |

The recent rash of weekend violence that has hit Clarksville has many talking about a rise in gang activity. Interim Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley, in an effort to allay fears has said that the last three shooting incidents are not related and that Monday’s shooting of former NWHS coach Willard Ross specifically is not gang related. This declaration has been met with skepticism by some within the community.

Some commentators on The Leaf Chronicle’s story chat site have expressed serious concerns that the recent rash of violence is directly related to current gang presence. Many opine that not enough is being done to combat the menace. The following story from Nashville details a police action to address a gang problem in that city.

The Nashville City Paper reported on Thursday, June 28th, of a police department operation that resulted in the arrest of four major figures in the Kurdish Pride Gang (KPG). Apparently these individuals have an extensive history with Nashville law enforcement. Nashville police officials do not deny that KPG is viewed as a gang operation and menace to the city. For more details, go to the City Paper’s article.

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City Council Retreat- What Does It All Mean? How Does It Impact You?

By Turner McCullough Jr. | June 12, 2007 |

A private citizen’s reflections on our city council’s 2 Day Kentucky Retreat.

Having made the trip to Lake Barkley, I was impressed with the diversity of ideas expressed by our council members and city department heads. As for the event location, it was quicker to drive to Lake Barkley Resort than Paris Landing. It would have been good to have held this function instate, but that was not the decision.

The ideas, goals and mission statement of the retreat represent a declared new vision for our city. The actual realization of those ideals will be the real test. The promised final report should be “must reading” for all citizens and residents. Pour over it with a fine tooth comb. Capital projects will likely warrant intense and dynamic scrutiny by the electorate. Proposals will not meet with everyone’s approval. These officials have agreed upon a plan for Clarksville’s future. Our future. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 5 Comments

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