Shane McFarland's Blog

Good morning all!! I thought this article was great. Please take aread!
Thanks,
Shane

CPA gives close look inside MPD
By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009 7:13 am

Email Print

Due to length, the names of those in the Citizens Police Academy class photo follow the story. Photo by Maj. Clyde Adkison



In September, your Post reporter, Michelle Willard, started the Murfreesboro Citizens Police Academy, which ended earlier this week.

The purpose of the CPA is to give an inside look into the operations of Murfreesboro’s Police Department and make participants active partners in their community.

During the 12-week course, we learned the primary operations and training of MPD. But I also learned how to relate to police officers and the important role they play in the fabric of our community. Applications are being accepted for the spring semester of the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy, which begins Jan. 12.

Applications can be found at murfreesborotn.gov or at the receptionist’s desk at City Hall. When completed, send or deliver it to the address listed on the form or drop it by City Hall.

There is a $50 fee to attend, but dinner for each session is provided.

On that note, here are the Top 10 (11, because I was that kid in school) things I learned at the Murfreesboro Citizens Police Academy.

1. Honey attracts more flies than vinegar.

When stopped in traffic by a police officer, being nice can possibly minimize the damage.

Officers often have multiple reasons for pulling a car over. And showing respect and being polite can reduce those multiple violations.

“Be nice and you might get a warning or one ticket instead of four,” Sgt. Don Fanning said.

In fact more than 50 percent of tickets issued by MPD are warning tickets.

2. Police officers are more afraid of you than you are of them.

When a patrol officer pulls over a car for a minor traffic violation, it alarms officers when drivers reach around in the car when they are walking toward it, because the officer never knows what you are reaching for. It could be your registration or it could be a gun.

Fanning, a supervisor on the midnight shift, said to know where your registration and proof of insurance is, but don’t reach for it without letting the officer know where your reaching and what you are reaching for.

3. Traffic stops are scary.

The most common point of contact between the public and police is a traffic stop. So cadets were allowed to simulate stops.

The hardest part of the entire experience, for me at least, was knowing what to say to keep the situation under control beyond, “May I see your license and registration?”

The simulations were fun and funny to watch but drove home the important point that every time a cop pulls a car over, he doesn’t know what’s going to step out and meet him. It could be a simple speeder or someone much more dangerous.

4. Where tax money goes.

MPD covers 55 square miles of territory, divided into seven districts, with 162 officers spread out over four shifts.

Officers use more than 100 marked patrol cars, eight motorcycles, six slick-top patrol cars, three unmarked cars and eight bicycles to patrol the streets of Murfreesboro.

5. Domestic violence accounts for most calls for service.

Of all the calls for help received by the Murfreesboro Police Department, 40 percent are domestic violence related, Detective Sgt. Amy Dean said.

When MPD responds to a domestic violence call, the officers always arrive in pairs and determine who the predominant aggressor is. Then the officers are required to fill out a report and make an arrest by state law.

The department always responds to domestics, because of the escalating nature of the violence, she said.

6. TV lies.

In reality, crime scene investigation is a slow and painstaking process, unlike what is shown on crime-based television shows.

If physical evidence is found, the samples, like DNA, trace evidence and even fingerprints, have to be sent off to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis, which can take months.

District Attorney Bill Whitesell said fingerprints are only useful in about 1 percent of cases and the chances for DNA are even less.

7. MPD’s cutest officer can sniff out anything.

Arguably the cutest officer in MPD is Murf, a black Labrador retriever trained to sniff out contraband.

The dog is trained to recognize to smells of various drugs, from marijuana and cocaine to methamphetamines and heroin for a positive reward.

In Murf’s case, the reward is his favorite toy – a tennis ball.

When Murf sniffs out a drug, he’ll dig and scratch where he catches the scent.

8. Moms make the best dispatchers.

MPD’s Communications Department is responsible for answering all calls for service placed within the city limits. Last year that counted for 19,300 calls, averaging 3,100 911-calls per month.

While answering the phone may sound easy, dispatchers have to listen to the phone, the police radio and their Nextels – all at the same time – while relaying that information to officers on the street.

Communications trainer Betsy Lee said moms often make the best dispatchers because they are used to listening in three or more directions at once.

9. Pepper spray is 1,000 times hotter than a jalapeño.

The pepper in the spray used by MPD ranks around 5 million on the Scoville heat scale, which is used to rate the heat in peppers.

In comparison, the common jalapeño rates between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville units. Habanero chilies and Scotch Bonnet Peppers rate between 100,000 and 350,000 depending on the pepper.

10. It takes a village.

Ordinary citizens are the first line of defense in public safety, various instructors stressed throughout the course.

Who knows their neighborhoods and workplaces better than those who live and work there? No one.

So, MPD asks that we all have a watchful eye for out of the ordinary or downright odd events and behavior in our neighbors, coworkers and even friends.

Any information about suspicious behavior or crimes can be reported to MPD at 893-1311, through murfreesborotn.gov or anonymously to Rutherford County Crime stoppers at 893-7867.

Call 895-3874 for more information about crime prevention programs.

11. Dedication is key.

The most impressive and overarching theme of the class was the dedication of Murfreesboro’s police officers.

Some perform multiple jobs within the department with no extra pay. Others go out of their way to train with outside agencies to make sure they are prepared to protect us.

But mostly, all the presenters were enthusiastic about their jobs and the role they play in protecting the people of Murfreesboro.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Photo:
Front Row: (L to R) Christopher Phillips, Diana Salinas, James Vaughn Jr., Linda Vaughn, Michelle Willard, Patricia Eisenbeis, William Jacobs Jr., Angela Miller, John Daly and Kenneth Varbanoff

Middle Row: Mike Grosch, Amy Wells, Katherine Morgan, Katherine Pearson, Haley Moses, Danielle Dixon, Ed Maupin, Joseph Traughber, Collin Kirkpatrick and Felica Stoklasa

Back Row: Lt. Steve Teeters, Asst. Chief Roy Fields, MPD Chief Glenn Chrisman, David Nipper, Greg Wade, Officer Kyle Evans and Deputy Chief Randy Garrett



Share: Digg Del.icio.us Facebook MySpace Reddit StumbleUpon

Monday, November 16
• Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee (12 noon)
• Linebaugh Library (5 pm)

Tuesday, November 17
• Historic Zoning (3:30 pm)
• School Board Special Meeting on selection of Director of Schools (4 pm)
• School Board Regular Meeting (6:30 pm)

Wednesday, November 18
• Old Fort Golf Commission (7:30 am)
• Pension Committee (8 am)
• Power Board (9:30 am)
• Planning Commission (1 pm)

Thursday, November 19
• Evergreen Cemetery (10 am at Pinnacle Bank)
• Homeless Task Force (2 pm)
• School Board Special Meeting on selection of Director of Schools (7:30 pm)
• City Council

Friday, November 20
• School Board Special Meeting on selection of Director of Schools (4 pm)

Saturday, November 21
• School Board Special Meeting on selection of Director of Schools (9 am)
2. Neighborhood and Community Items
• National League of Cities Prescription Discount Cards have arrived and are available at City Hall and other city offices.

What a night last night!! There are exciting things happening in Murfreesboro!

We approved the demolition of the outdoor pool at Sports Com. After 25 years the pool has had it. Not to worry, we are upgrading and providing a new water park with slides, splash pads, water pads, lap pools, diving pools and more. This facility will be state of the art and also provide a revenue stream that the City has not had with the outdoor pool.

Haynes Drive: We discussed a small construction project on Haynes Drive to straighten out the curve by Sulphur Springs Drive and Regency Park Drive. Road projects are tough, especially on a road that is traveled as much as Haynes and has homes fronting the road. Road projects are such a tough discussion. Widening roads has an adverse effect on the residents that face the street, but in the long run provide such a benefit for the entire area. We have discussed Haynes Drive for many years, especially when we widened Dejarnette Lane to 5 lanes and the discussion has always been tense. Now we are discussing repaving Haynes Drive. I am not sure that is going to be a wise decision. It doesn't make much sense...to me...to pave an entire section of road when we know the road needs to be widened. There is so much traffic between, Regency Park Drive(Siegel Elementary and Middle), Sulphur Springs Road(Siegel Hight), Battleground Extension(Siegel Hight), Dejarnette(Providence Academy, Pittard Elementary, and a new school under construction) that we need to discuss proceeding?

Please feel free to weigh in your opinion?

As always contact me if you need anything.

Shane

Many Great Things:

I hope everyone is doing great.

It has been sometime since I have posted a blog. Things have been really busy with the City. We have made it through a budget, continually worked on the tornado clean up, and dealt with many many other issues.

I am so excited and proud for our New City Manager. Rob Lyons is no stranger to the City, but he is provided a new perspective with many different areas in our City Governmnet. Rob has hit the ground running with many new ideas. Mr. Lyons has made communication a priority in his job. The council receives a weekly report that details important things from the week and important things to think about for the upcoming week.

I will start taking the weekly report and post my own weekly report every Friday.

Stay tuned.

Shane

I hope this post finds everyone in good spirits. The past three days have been both tragic and uplifting. It is so hard to describe the varying emotions that I have felt.

Around 12:30 on Friday, I had just finished a conversation with Deputy City Manager Rob Lyons where he said, "Watch out and stay by the TV there is bad weather expected to be moving in." We knew something wasn't right when the electricity went out and we started hearing sirens. Ashley's mom called us and said there was a tornado on Sulphur Springs road to take cover. We huddled in the laundry room with a candle and two scared boys. We could hear the "train" sound and then our house started shaking. This took probably 15 seconds before it passed. We waited a few minutes to get out of the laundry room and go look out the window. There was debris in the yard, but nothing that alarmed us too much. I went out in the yard and could hear sirens everywhere. They kept getting closer and closer.

Our neighborhood had been hit. I got in the truck and couldn't believe my eyes. Just one street over, the homes were gone. They were literally gone. Neighbors were rushing from house to house checking on the residents. People were in the streets pulling trees out of the way. It looked like a movie scene.

Most of you have seen the devastation that has hit Murfreesboro. The neighborhood where I live has been one of the hardest hit. While our house is OK, we can walk 300 yards and there are homes that are not there anymore. They are a pile of rubble. Streets that were once lined with 40 year old trees are now lined with limbs, stumps and debris. A peaceful neighborhood now is ringing with chainsaws and heavy equipment.

I have witnessed much sadness, distress and despair, but those emotions have been quickly put aside with hope and courage. I have seen a community pull together and take care of one another. Volunteers have been fantastic. Kids have been walking around with baskets of food and drinks. I have seen a brigade of people working non stop. Heavy equipment operators and people moving trees and belongings have worked non stop. This is the time that you see what a community is made of and I am proud to say that Murfreesboro's character is strong. We are strong and while we may have been knocked down we have not been knocked out. I was working at a house today and a man came up and just simply asked, "Where do you need me." Those are the predominant words that you have been hearing. "What do you need and how can I help?"

Our Emergency Service Providers have been second to none. I have not been through a disaster like this before, but I can't imagine that a group of Service Providers could have acted any better or more organized. Although I am sure there was chaos at City Hall, I saw none. Police Officers where gathering volunteers to aid with search and rescue, firefighters were working on downed power lines and gas leaks, power crews were working around the clock to restore electricity and City Staff was coordinating everything and doing it with precise measures. There were Murfreesboro Solid Waste personal picking up debris less than 2 hours after the torando hit. The Murfreesboro crews have picked up 2.6 million pounds of material in 3 days! The Building and Codes department have walked every inch of the damaged areas. They have been to every home. GIS technicians have aided with maps showing which homes and what areas are needing repair. I want to personally thank each service provider and City Staff member for the job they have done.

We are not done and I know there will be much work in the coming days, but I think that it is safe to say that the citizens of this city will do it just like they have the last 3 days. They will do it with compassion, conviction and most of all with courage.

God Bless,

Shane McFarland