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The Metro -PD budget talks show that crime is reduced, plans for more police officers

The Metro -PD budget talks show that crime is reduced, plans for more police officers

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Metro Nashville's budget is growing, although the city recorded a reduction in crime compared to this time last year, according to police chief John Drake, who also fell by 28% by 28% in a hearing on the budget on May 21.

During the procedure, Drake presented important details and initiatives from the proposed budget of the 2025-2026 department of $ 329 million 2025-2026, compared to the budget of $ 308 million 2024-2025.

Although the increase in the lack of level at the level will go hand in hand, Drake, 61 of the 141 open positions of the department, which are included in the budget proposal, did not make the cut in this year.

Even if the department was reaching the full staff with 1,658, Drake said that Nashville's growth will always lead to the department does not go to humans.

“We had a firm from Boston to carry out a personnel study. I think it was about three years ago that we would need another 175 more officials to be effective in our city. And that was three years ago,” said Drake. “And so I would say that if we come to 1,658, this number (175) could easily double to around 250 to 300 more above this 1,658.”

Due to personnel levels and budget restrictions, certain projects for budgeting purposes were pushed into the background, which contributed to a growing wish list, said Drake.

What is in the budget?

One of the largest places in the proposed budget is 3.2 million US dollars for improvements in Rapid School Safety Team, a tactical unit that was created after shooting the Covenant School.

The proposal also contains funds for school resource officials and more staff, with 23 full -time employees being added.

A third -party resource representative is added to comprehensive high schools, while the plans are still firm to add additional school resource officials to primary schools, the proposal says.

Zulfat Suara, council member of the Metro council members, asked Drake whether his department had worked with the Sheriff's Office on School Security, and found that the Sheriff's office offers security for various U -Bahn buildings.

Suara does not support school resource officials, she said.

During his answer, Drake said that he regarded school resource officers as more than security forces or a uniform presence.

“You are there to build relationships,” he said.

What is not in the budget?

Drake cited an expansion of 1.8 million US dollars for the alternative police unit as one of the projects that did not make the cut.

The unit created in February 2022 helps to shorten the response times for full -time officers for small crimes, said Drake. It consists of retired, unarmed officials who do not need police cruisers or other law enforcement equipment to conclude reports.

In some cases, Drake said that victims of small crimes had been waiting for up to 10 hours for a report when the officials made other important requests for duty. The alternative unit prevent waiting times, he said. In 2024, the device responded to more than 38,000 requirements for service and wrote more than 30,000 reports.

Another desired article for a future budget, said Drake, was an advertising material that supports the entertainment district who patrolled the lower Broadway on Thursday to Sunday.

More: Police officers from Nashville, which were assigned to the new entertainment district unit, receive a large bonus

The entertainment district was occupied for the first time by officials from the districts all over the city after the officials of the tourism industry were asked for more arrests and aggressive law enforcement by disordered people in the city center.

It was permanent in 2023.

But MNPD has been struggling with storage within the district since then because the officials do not prefer the classes and locations, said the boss.

An application for $ 4.2 million to finance the entertainment district was not included in the 2025-2026 budget, he said during the hearing on May 21.

“We will find a way to reach it,” he promised.

The last desired article that Drake found was an increase of $ 330.00 so that the 72 existing high Mila vehicles kept in its fleet. The funds would pay the maintenance and fuel costs and at the same time cover the costs for radio devices and bicycle repairs.

By storing the 72 vehicles, the department enables more civil servants to have more on the street, the boss said.

“We continue to grow as a police department. Although we have replaced the vehicles, we continue to grow and we have civil servants who need cars,” said Drake. In the hearing on May 21, he announced council members that officers can sometimes wait more than an hour to gain access to a cruiser and start patrol.

The budget and finance committee begins on May 27th the working sessions to discuss the final budget proposals.

Reach the reporter Craig Shoup via e -mail at cshoup@gannett.com and at x @Craig_shoup. To support his work, register for a digital subscription at www.tenessean.com.

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