MNPD Captain Appointed as First-Ever Transit Liaison to Advance Public Safety at WeGo Facilities

Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake today announced the appointment of veteran police Captain Brian Williams to serve as the department’s first-ever permanent transit liaison. Beginning March 1, Williams will advance public safety at WeGo’s hub downtown as well as at neighborhood transit centers.

“We know that as ridership increases, security has to commensurately increase,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell said. “That’s why we included funding for key security upgrades in our Choose How You Move plan. Captain Williams will work with Chief Drake to assess needs and create an environment that ensures all Nashvillians feel safe using public transportation.”

“Brian will serve as an important resource for the police department and WeGo management as both entities work together to identify and then implement protocols to enhance safety throughout the entire WeGo system -- from transit centers to bus stops and buses,” Chief Drake said. “Safety on public transit isn’t just about addressing incidents after they happen, it’s about preventing them in the first place. With the ramp up of Mayor O’Connell’s Choose How You Move initiative, now is the time for the police department to have a captain focused every day on transit safety in Nashville and could lead up to the establishment of a Transit Division in our police department.”

Williams will maintain offices at both police headquarters and WeGo Central. He will work with WeGo management and the system’s new security company, Arch Angel, to focus on data-driven decision making to proactively address safety issues and concerns. This includes the timely consideration of ideas and recommendations from commuters and community members on how to further improve transit security. With regularity, he will report on his work to MNPD leadership.

As Williams transitions into this new role, the police department is continuing to promote safety at WeGo Central through a periodic undercover presence, extra-duty uniformed officers, and visits by on-duty Central Precinct personnel.

Captain Williams is a 17-year MNPD veteran who previously supervised a downtown police bicycle detail at the Central Precinct and later the South Precinct’s evening shift, one of the city’s busiest. He has overseen the department’s Records Division for the past three years.