Nashville Metro Police have implemented Operation Safer Streets, a three-pronged plan that is greatly enhancing police department gang investigations, precinct-based criminal investigations and adding increased uniformed officer visibility downtown on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights covering the areas from 1st to 4th Avenues between Demonbreun and Church Street. Of the 14 new detective positions, the North Precinct received five, the East Precinct four, the South Precinct three, the West Precinct one and the Hermitage Precinct one.
According to The Tennessean, this anti-gang initiative resulted in 51 arrests last week and the confiscation of 27.4 grams of marijuana, 9.1 grams of cocaine, ecstasy pills, several weapons, and $6,024. Of the 51 arrests, 8 involved felony charges, 64 misdemeanors and 4 outstanding warrants. Operation Safer Streets is proving effective as overall major crime is down nearly 11% this year, and building upon last year’s successes that reduced overall major crime to its lowest level since 1991.
