Clarksville, Tennessee, is the county seat of Montgomery County and the fifth largest city in Tennessee, behind Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville. The Clarksville Police Department provides law enforcement services for the 95.5 square mile area of the city, 94.9 of which is land, the other 0.7 being water.
Clarksville, Tennessee, has an approximate population, based on the most recent available figures, of 137,356 denizens. The total amount of criminal occurrences yearly in Clarksville, established as an average, is 4,748. Of these incidents, 18% are violent crimes. Murders amount to 10 yearly (0.07 per thousand denizens), rapes amount to 47 yearly (0.34 per thousand denizens), robberies amount to 100 yearly (.73 per thousand denizens), and assaults amount to 720 yearly (5.24 per thousand denizens). The remaining 82% of incidents are property crimes. Burglaries amount to 990 yearly (7.21 per thousand denizens), thefts amount to 2,711 yearly (19.74 per thousand residents), and vehicle thefts amount to 170 yearly (1.24 per thousand residents). Altogether, there are 877 total violent crimes and 3,871 total property crimes every year in Clarksville. One out of every one hundred and fifty people living in Clarksville will be victimized by a violent crime, and one out of every thirty five people living in Clarksville will be victimized by a property crime every year.
The CPD is subdivided into several sections that focus on specific parts of its law enforcement duties. The CST (Crime Scene Team) uses staff members from other departmental sections on an on call basis. These members serve these other sections as regular members, stepping up as CST officers when a situation demands their specialties. The Crisis Negotiator Team steps in to help resolve situations like hostage scenarios, offenders who have “holed up”, and suicide threats. Dispatch receives calls for service and coordinates communication and response of appropriate officers and resources to the scene of an incident. The K9 services Unit currently has four pairs of handlers and canine that are trained for and employed in assisting in locating narcotics, missing persons, and articles and objects related to crimes, and also help in the apprehension of suspects who may pose dangers to public safety and officers. The Tactical Unit is deployed for situations that are deemed to be “high risk”, which include hostage scenarios, suicidal persons, “holed up” persons, serving of warrants to suspects expected to be dangerous, the protection of VIPs and dignitaries, and any circumstance the Chief feels warrants their inclusion.
What to Expect During the Arrest Process at the Clarksville Police Station.
The person is subjected to processing at the police station, which entails filling out forms and being examined for the presence of any illegal items.
A booking clerk or a police officer will take the arrested person’s photograph, also referred to as a “mugshot.” This shot is often taken from many angles, including front, side, and back.
A check of the individual’s history follows the taking of their fingerprints for identification purposes.
The person may be kept in a holding cell or a detention center until they are either able to be released on bond or brought before the court for their arraignment.
Important roles regarding arrest records, booking log, and bail bonds
Patrol officers: Officers assigned to patrol are responsible for making arrests and transporting criminal suspects to the correctional facility. In addition, they collect the person’s details and the specific details of the arrest itself.
Booking officers: Officers dealing in booking are those who are charged with registering suspects who have been detained or charged. They’re in charge of logging the suspect’s particulars, swiping their fingerprints, and photographing a mugshot. They are responsible for updating the booking log as well.
Records department: In the records section of the police station, officers are charged with keeping a correct booking log and archiving all arrest records. On request, they also share data with the general public and other institutions.
Bailiffs: These officials keep the courtroom safe and secure and transport defendants before the judge when warranted. They help the court system set bail sums and see that defendants are freed on bond when necessary.
Jail staff: Staff at a correctional facility must ensure that convicts are treated humanely while still keeping the facility secure. They also help get detainees to court and make sure those who post bail get out when they need to.
The Training Division handles all facets of training required for non-sworn and sworn personnel (sworn officers are required to undergo at least forty hours of training every year). The Traffic / Parks Division handles the enforcement of traffic laws in Clarksville and patrolling and responding to calls in the city’s park areas. The City Records Division holds and maintains all records pertaining to accidents and incidents within the city’s jurisdiction. The Domestic Violence Unit liaises between victims of stalking, sexual assault, dating violence, and domestic violence and law enforcement personnel responding to such incidents. They strive to assist victims with finding help and support and to keep them informed and understanding of the investigative process and where their personal case is currently.
The website of the CPD can be found at Clarksville Police Department Home. Therein can be found a multitude of information, including an overview of the services they provide and how they relate to the community. Notable inclusions are:
- The Teen Citizen Police Academy, with information on how to apply to the classes, when those classes will be held, and contact information for the officers involved in the program. The Teen Citizen Police Academy is designed to teach young people about the functions and responsibilities that are performed by the local police force in the community. The program will generally take place over the course of several weeks, and it will consist of a wide range of activities in addition to various lectures. The purpose of the Teen Citizen Police Academy is to provide young people with a behind-the-scenes insight into the activities of the police department and to improve their knowledge of the obstacles and the advantages of serving as a police officer. The program includes discussions and workshops on a variety of topics, including the reduction of drug use, the prevention of crime, and improve safe driving. The adolescents could also get the chance to engage in hands-on activities such as defensive strategies and weapon training. The purpose of this activity is to foster a constructive link between the teenagers and the police department while also educating the children on the day-to-day procedures of the police department. Teenagers at least 14 years old and who reside in or go to school in the Clarksville vicinity are eligible to participate in the program regularly. The program is often offered at no cost to participants and takes place throughout the spring and summer months.
- Contact Information for the department as a whole as well as individual segments of its structure.
- Citizen’s Police Academy, which helps to educate citizens about the department, its resources, and functions and offers training in areas such as safe operation and handling of firearms and self defense techniques.
- Public Information, with links to help in contacting the Information Officer to request public records, access the CPD”s annual report, or view information on crime in specific ares of the city.