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Crime Falls for the Third Straight Year
Chief Ronal Serpas announced that overall major crime in Nashville fell for the third straight year in 2006 to the lowest level since 1990. Last year’s major crime total was 4.9% below that of 2005, with both violent and property crime categories reflecting reductions.
The 2006 overall crime rate, which is based on Nashville’s population estimates, was the lowest since 1989. The violent crime rate last year was the lowest since 1990, a 16-year low. The property crime rate in 2006 was the lowest since 1979, a 27-year low.
“The men and women of the Metro police department, in partnership with neighborhoods throughout the city, continue to work diligently every day to reduce crime and enhance quality of life in all areas of Nashville, and I am exceptionally proud of them,” Serpas said. “At the same time, I am tremendously grateful for critical support we continue to receive from Nashville’s families and businesses. The number of neighborhood watch groups that work with our precincts grew once again last year to a new total of 353, a 14% increase.”
Officer Danita Marsh Receives Patrol Officer of the Year Award
Officer Danita Marsh was named the Metropolitan Police Department’s Patrol Officer of the Year for 2006. She was ambushed and critically wounded while assisting a domestic assault victim on October 27, 2006.Officer Marsh suffered life-altering injuries as she worked to make North Nashville a safer place.
“Danita is a true inspiration to all of us in this police department,” Chief Ronal Serpas said. “Her courage and determination are amazing and encouraging.”
Chief Ronal Serpas presents the Patrol Officer of the Year Award to Officer Danita Marsh
Pictured (l-r) are Chief Ronal Serpas, Officer Marsh, Nurse Brittany Hill, and Officer Marsh’s mother, Vivian
National Night Out Against Crime 2006
Thousands of Nashvillians representing 89 community groups took part in events throughout the city to commemorate National Night Out Against Crime on August 1. National Night Out represents the true crime fighting partnership between citizens and their police department. Chief Serpas, officers from all six precincts, and members of the SWAT Team and Mounted Patrol took part in visiting the various celebrations
Sheriff’s Department Provides Safe Rides Home for Nashville Residents
On St. Patrick’s Day the Sheriff’s Department sponsored a program to provide sober rides home for Nashville residents. A total of 750 riders took advantage of the program this year. That’s a 26% increase from last year. This program relies on volunteers from the Sheriffs department to give up their nights to make sure Nashville party-goers get home safely. This year 135 employees volunteered to ensure that our streets were safer for everyone.
Number of Fire Fatalities Dropping in Nashville, Fire Safety Education Programs Credited with Saving Lives
Nashville fire fatalities showed a dramatic drop in the last five years especially for deaths in residential fires, according to a report released by the Nashville Fire Department.
The number of residential fire deaths in Nashville in the last five years fell to 28 for the five years from 2001 through 2005, the lowest level for any similar period going back to the 1960s.
“This Fire Department works hard every day to protect the lives of the people of our community,” Mayor Bill Purcell said. “This shows that they are doing the work not only at the scene of a fire, but before a fire strikes by teaching people effective fire safety techniques.”
Fire officials also announced new education initiatives funded under a recent federal grant. The Fire Department recently hired three (3) school teachers for a period of one year, funded through the Federal Assistance to Firefighters, Public Education Grant.
With Dr. Pedro Garcia’s support, the teachers will deliver the “Learn Not to Burn” program to the teachers of Pre-kindergarten through second grades in Metro schools. The teachers of those grades will then teach their young school children eight key fire safety behaviors, set to music and dance. The children will then take the information home, rendering fire-safe an entire family. The Nashville Fire Department teachers will also train teachers of day cares and the “Remember When” program designed to help the elderly with safety tools specific to them.