Franklin, TN – On the evening of Friday, 03/23/2012, the Franklin Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Carothers Parkway near Gillespie Drive.

Last year, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office awarded the Department with a $50,000 grant to use for anti-DUI initiatives including DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols, training, and equipment. Overtime for officers working this checkpoint will be paid by that grant.

According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, impaired driving and impaired-related crashes constitute one of the nation’s leading health problems. These events result in more deaths each year than do total homicides, and alcohol is a factor in 33% of all crashes in the United States.

Community: According to @FranklinTraffic: Roadwork Tues 3/20 - Wed 3/21: McEwen @ Carothers - Expect delays 8a-4p.

Franklin Police Department via Nixle.

The Street Dept has the westbound lane of S. Margin closed between 3rd Ave South and 5th Ave/Lewisburg Pike until 3pm

Franklin Police Department Traffic Alert: Main Street CLOSED between 5-Points and 2nd Ave to vehicular traffic SATURDAY 4pm to Midnight for Brew Fest. Drink Responsibly.

Franklin, TN – Jonathan Drewry, 21 of Fayetteville, remains in custody today on a $750,000 bond after a February 13th attack at a local motel. Drewry attacked the victim at about 8:00 pm in her room after tracking her to the Quality Inn, 1307 Murfreesboro Road, where she was staying. Drewry was working as a cook at a nearby restaurant where the 41-year-old woman from Kentucky had dined the night before. The victim and Drewry were strangers with no previous connection.

Officers quickly arrested Drewry in his motel room at America’s Best Value Inn, 4201 Franklin Commons Court, following the attack. Charged with Aggravated Rape and Aggravated Assault, Drewry remains in the Williamson County Jail on a $750,000 bond. His next court appearance in March 6 at 8:15 am.

Courtesy www.franklintn.gov

The Franklin Police Department invites community clergy to be our guest for coffee at Police Headquarters, Monday, October 3rd. Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey and Chief David Rahinsky will host a one-hour “Coffee with the Clergy” in the Community Room at Franklin Police Headquarters, 900 Columbia Avenue, starting at 7:45 am.

Franklin religious leaders from all faiths can RSVP for this first-time, open forum discussion on issues relevant to their congregations by email or phone to Donna Thorpe, (615) 550-6802.

Two members of the Franklin Police Department’s SWAT Team returned today from a national competition in Gastonia, NC.

Last week, 37 teams from California to Massachusetts were challenged in their marksmanship abilities. Officers Herman Gomez and Ryan Schuman who represented Franklin’s SWAT Team placed #4 overall.

“These guys competed against large organizations like San Diego PD and the United States Military,” said Franklin PD’s SWAT Commander, Sergeant Brian Woodward. “The fact that they walked away with the #4 spot speaks volumes. I can’t tell you how proud I am of their accomplishment. Our officers in Franklin are truly the best of the best.”

This annual event is organized by the Gastonia Police Department SWAT Team, recognized nationally for its tactical accomplishments in law enforcement.

At a ceremony Friday in Nashville, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office recognized the Franklin Police Department as having Tennessee’s best child safety and occupant protection programs.

The Department was also recognized as having the best overall traffic safety program of any Tennessee law enforcement agency with between 101 and 200 officers. Officer Rachel Gober, for her dedication and commitment to child passenger safety in Tennessee, was honored with The Director’s Award.

The Law Enforcement Challenge program, coordinated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, recognizes the best overall traffic safety programs in the Country. Franklin Police Sergeant David Prather, who supervises the Department’s traffic unit said, “Focusing on enforcement and education efforts in things like child and occupant protection, impaired driving, and speeding doesn’t just win us awards, it saves lives.”

During an October ceremony in Chicago, the Franklin Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be honored with the National Award for Child Passenger Safety for the second consecutive year.

Courtesy www.franklintn.gov

City Administrator Eric Stuckey announced Tuesday the interviews for the Franklin Police Chief candidates will take place Monday, June 20, with a public forum set for Tuesday at 9:30 in the Police Department Community Room. The forum will begin with an informal meet and greet with the candidates, followed by a question and answer session moderated by Executive Director of Franklin Tomorrow, Mindy Tate.

The four contenders are Joseph Bishop, Police Chief of the Columbia Police Department; David Mitchell, Former Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and State Homeland Security Director; Anthony Pustizzi, Deputy Police Chief in Coral Springs, Florida; and Interim Chief of Police for the City of Franklin, David Rahinsky.

“This public forum will give the media and the community a chance to get to know the candidates a little better,” said Stuckey. “On Monday the four candidates will go through a series of interviews, a tour of the community and the new Police Headquarters. After this interview process we hope to move forward with filling this position as quickly as possible.”

Below we have included some background information on each candidate. Each candidate has extensive experience and affiliations beyond what we have printed below.

Joseph Bishop
Bishop has a Master’s Degree in Public Service Management (magna cum laude) from Cumberland University. He has a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University. He’s been with the Columbia Police Department since November 2008 and currently serves as Chief of Police. Prior to his service in Columbia, Bishop worked his way through the ranks at the Nashville Metro Police Department for 28 years, ending his career there as Deputy Chief of Police-Field Operations Unit.

David Mitchell
Mitchell has a B.S. Degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University; he also completed post graduate courses toward a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from MTSU. He was selected by the FBI to attend Kellogg School of Management and Leadership intensive course at Northwestern University. He served the State of Tennessee as the Commissioner of Safety and Director of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2010 and worked 26 years for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Anthony Pustizzi
Pustizzi has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University with a B.S. in Criminology from the University of Florida. He worked his way through the ranks of the Coral Springs, Florida Police Department for 23 years, currently serving as Deputy Police Chief. He’s also worked as an Adjunct Professor in Criminal Justice at ITT Technical Institute in Fort Lauderdale and currently serves as the State Board Vice President of the FBI National Academy.

David Rahinsky
Rahinsky has a B.S. in History from Florida Atlantic University (summa cum laude) and a Masters Degree in Criminology from Florida State University to be awarded August 6, 2011. David currently serves as Interim Chief of Police for the City of Franklin and came to the department in 2006 as Deputy Chief for the Criminal Investigations Division, he's also served as Deputy Chief over Operations and Assistant Police Chief. Prior to his service with Franklin, Rahinsky worked for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Ft. Lauderdale for 17 years ultimately serving as Chief for the City of Oakland Park and he began his career in 1987 in Philadelphia.