Chief Steve Anderson this morning honored the MNPD’s 2019 Employees of the Year, whose outstanding work made Nashville a safer place.
“Each of our eight employees of the year exemplifies the deep commitment to Nashville’s public safety shared by all of our officers and professional support staff,” Chief Anderson said. “Our department is very proud of their work.”
This year’s honorees are:
Community Services Bureau Police Officer of the Year for 2019
Concerned about a large number of vehicle burglaries at hotels and motels in the area of Elm Hill Pike and Briley Parkway, Officer Johns’ excellent work on the overnight shift during 2019 led to several arrests and the recoveries of guns.
In one case, Officer Johns saw two men suspiciously sitting inside a Honda Accord in the parking lot of Embassy Suites on Century Boulevard. When Officer Johns approached, the driver threw a plastic baggy onto the dash and fled on foot. After a brief chase, the driver was taken into custody. The baggy contained 56 grams of crystal meth. The Honda was stolen. Inside it was a loaded 9 millimeter pistol.
In another case, Officer Johns recovered a stolen pickup truck in the parking lot of the Wingate by Wyndham hotel while successfully chasing down and arresting the driver.
In a third case, Officer Johns arrested an armed juvenile who was a member of a group trying to break into cars at Polo Park Apartments on Jackson Downs Boulevard.
Community Services Bureau Patrol Officer of the Year for 2019
On the night of November 20th, Officer Stovall was on his way home from work, but decided to grab some ice cream from his local grocer on Old Hickory Boulevard in Hermitage. While driving through the parking lot in uniform and in his marked police car, Officer Stovall saw a woman in distress. He then saw a man holding the woman’s son at gunpoint. Officer Stovall exited his police car and gave orders for the man to release the child. He ultimately did so, stole the woman’s car, and fled the parking lot. Officer Stovall gave chase and, after a short pursuit, the gunman was apprehended. It was later determined that the victims were shopping when the gunman targeted them, pulled a gun and demanded their car. Officer Stovall’s heroic intervention prevented harm to the victims and led to the arrest of a very dangerous individual.
Community Services Bureau Investigator of the Year for 2019
Investigation by Detective Cuthbertson led to the identification of a Connecticut man, Peter Alexander Bohning, as the person who on June 21st randomly attacked and stabbed Donald and Leigh Ann Zirkle at their Cherokee Road home. Mr. Zirkle died. His wife continues to recover.
Bohning died in Gaines County, Texas after being shot during a confrontation with a deputy sheriff four days after the murder.
Investigative Services Bureau Investigators of the Year for 2019
Outstanding investigative work by Detectives Boone and Toney led to the identification of serial rapist Willie Williams Jr., who victimized seven women, several of them escorts, during 2019. In some of the cases, Williams pulled a gun on the victims. In one of them, he threatened the victim with a large hunting knife. Williams fled Nashville after learning that he was wanted. He was subsequently apprehended in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and returned here in August to face an indictment charging him with multiple counts of aggravated rape and aggravated robbery.
Support Services Bureau Special Operations Officers of the Year for 2019
In late November, the Special Response Team was requested to assist in locating Montez Brown, who had an outstanding arrest warrant for especially aggravated robbery, and who was a suspect in more than 40 home invasion robberies. For several days leading up to the issuance of the arrest warrant, Officers Gregory and Rader spent an extensive amount of time conducting research on Brown and identifying possible addresses where he could be hiding in Nashville, Gallatin and Clarksville.
After performing reconnaissance at several locations, Brown was located in Clarksville. These officers developed a plan with Clarksville Police to successfully take Brown into custody without incident, despite him being armed with a pistol. During subsequent interviews, Brown admitted to dozens of robberies in our area.
Professional Support Employee of the Year for 2019
Mickie Sherrell is a 30-year Metro Police veteran who serves as our liaison and monitor at the Vehicle Impound Lot, which is operated by a private company. When investigators or administrators need immediate information about an impounded vehicle, Ms. Sherrell cheerfully provides timely and helpful details. Beyond her work at Vehicle Impound, Ms. Sherrell assists Human Resources in conducting computerized employee background checks. Ms. Sherrell is known for her excellent work ethic, willingness to help others under any circumstance, and her kind and gracious personality.
