Topic: Public Safety

Addressing the perception of a need for guns in city parks

By Candy Johnson | July 31, 2009 |

Candy Johnson, City Council Ward 5

I received some emails from people who expressed concerns abut the city council opting out of the state guns in Parks bill,  which I along with some of my constituents think is a good decision for our community. The theme amongst those who are in favor of allowing guns in parks seems to be that they are worried about safety in our parks. This is not backed up by the statistics, so I have attached a list of the crimes committed in parks as reported to the Police Department since January.

In 11 of our parks there were no crimes reported, and in the others there were just a few. I think providing some information on the safety of our parks will provide some relief to those who are concerned. I will continue to oppose allowing guns in our parks, as a matter of ensuring the safety of our children. I would hate to see a permit holder get into an argument at a park with someone,  and then instead of calling the police  take matters into their own hands, and innocent bystanders get hurt. «Read the rest of this article»

House Democrats announce 2009 Caucus agenda

March 16, 2009 |

Legislative Wrap Up: Rep. Joe Pitts releases House Dem. 2009 Caucus Agenda. The agenda focuses on important issues facing Tennessee’s  working families.

State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) and members of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus on Thursday announced the release of the 2009 House Democratic Caucus Agenda.

“Tennessee Democrats believe education, economic opportunity, public safety, and health care are the cornerstones of our future success as a state.” Pitts said. “Our agenda reflects those priorities and distinguishes where House Democrats stand and lets our citizens know that we are putting them first.” «Read the rest of this article»

Dui checkpoints: keeping our roadways safer

November 3, 2008 |

As trick or treaters wrapped their Halloween adventures early Friday evening, Clarksville Police revved up their sobriety checkpoints targeting older Halloween celebrants and other drivers as the month of October drew to a close Friday night.

The CPD and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department have run a number of such checkpoints and saturation patrols, aimed at reducing the number of impaired drivers, speeders and other in violation of driving laws.

As we move toward the gatherings and high traffic period of Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, we hope these effective checkpoints are not only continued but expanded. They only serve to make the streets of Clarksville and Montgomery County safer for everyone.

«Read the rest of this article»

“Saturation” policing targets drunk drivers

October 24, 2008 |

The Clarksville Police Department will be performing saturation patrols (partially funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office) throughout the City of Clarksville on October 24 and 25, 2008 between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.. The primary purpose of the saturation patrols is to detect and apprehend impaired drivers through aggressive traffic enforcement.

The CPD, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, will also be conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint and saturation patrols on Ft Campbell Blvd (partially funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office) October 31, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.. After completion of the checkpoint, Clarksville Police Department will have additional personnel performing saturation patrols throughout the city until 4 a.m..  «Read the rest of this article»

Ward 8 Candidate David Cutting speaks out on public safety issues

September 5, 2008 |

David Cutting, candidate for Clarksville Ward 8 City Council, in his first position paper, targets the issues of Public Safety. Cutting is seeking the seat currently held by Councilor James Doyle.

I choose to write my first position paper, Public Safety, as a brief narrative, derived from my personal observations.

The current City Council systematically denies pay increases for our firefighters and police officers by first telling them they must accept salary reductions, so that when their current salaries remain uncut they feel good that at least they did not lose anything. However, the public loses, when seasoned officers leave for smaller cities, such as Ashland City and Oak Grove, for higher pay. We must then recruit and train replacements, at significant cost, when those funds, plus revenue from an increased property tax base (not increased property taxes) should have been used for parity increases to our already trained and devoted men and women. «Read the rest of this article»

Sobriety checkpoint set for holiday weekend

August 28, 2008 |

The Clarksville Police Department, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, August 29th from 11:00 pm until 1:00 am on Fort Campbell Blvd. The purpose is to detect and deter impaired drivers.

CPD will have extra D.U.I. Enforcement Officers working both Friday and Saturday nights for the holiday weekend. The CPD urges drivers to not mix driving and drinking.

Additionally, the CPD will have their new D.U.I. Booking Trailer, constructed by Michael Richardson and Trailerlogic, LLC, on hand for an “open house” for media and others from 1600 hours until 1700 hours Friday, August 29, 2008. It will be set up at 1584 Vista Lane for this event.

CPD accepting applications for Citizen Police Academy training

August 8, 2008 |

The Clarksville Police Department

The Clarksville Police Department is now accepting application for the upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy. The classes will begin on September 2nd and end on November 25th, 2008. Classes are scheduled for Tuesday evenings. The Academy offers Clarksville resident the opportunity to learn about police procedures and the duties and challenges that face our police officers as they discharge they duties.

Applications are available at Police Headquarters, 135 Commerce Street at the front window and on the police department’s website www.clarksvillepd.org

Kick crime to the curb

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»

Be aware: Summer school zones require caution, reduced speed

June 5, 2008 |

Due to summer programs from June 2-27, some school zone lights will remain on as particular times during the day. Motorists are expected to follows school zone posted speeds in those areas.

The following is a list of the times and zones where the lights will remain on:

Middle Schools: between 8:15-8:45 a.m. and 11:15- 11:45 a.m.

• Kenwood on Peachers Mill Road
• Montgomery Central at 48 & 13
• Northeast at Trenton Road
• New Providence at Cunningham Lane
• Rossview at Rossview Road
• Richview at Richview Road
• West Creek at Peachers Mill Road «Read the rest of this article»

Clarksville Police offer ‘Teen Academy’

June 2, 2008 |

The Clarksville Police Department will be hosting TEEN Citizen Police Academy June 16th through June 20th, 2008. The course is free and the curriculum includes crime scene investigation, narcotic investigation, K-9 unit, mounted patrol and much more. The Teen Citizen Police Academy is for teens between the ages of 13-18. The times are 8:00 a.m. for Monday and 9:00 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, with pick up times at 3:00 p.m. each day.

The purpose of this academy is to create a better understanding between citizens and police through education. A copy of the application can be found at Police Headquarters, 135 Commerce Street, Clarksville, Tennessee. For more information you can contact Officer Joe Newman at 648-0656 ext 2304 or Officer David Cobb at ext. 2210.

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