The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is stepping up its presence around the city's premier shopping destinations starting this Friday, according to an official announcement. The strategy, aimed at ensuring public safety and deterring any potential retail theft during the bustling holiday season, will see officers on patrol in various forms – from foot to horseback, in cars, and even from above, with MNPD Aviation set to conduct surveillance flights.
Shoppers can expect to see additional police activity around locales such as Tanger Outlets, Nashville West shopping center, Opry Mills Mall, and Green Hills Mall. To fully extend their reach and effectiveness, the MNPD is joining forces with private security teams and management at these shopping centers. As a part of this initiative, anyone apprehended for theft or vehicle break-ins will be "arrested and prosecuted." This heightened measure comes at a time when Opry Mills Mall is preparing to not only greet shoppers but also to efficiently manage significant traffic through the holiday rush.
Specifically, at Opry Mills Mall, officers will be supplementing the regular precinct force and taking to horseback to oversee parking areas closely. "Additionally,18 officers will be working to keep traffic flowing beginning this weekend through the weekend before Christmas," according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's statement. Advice for motorists has been issued, urging patience and providing exit information to manage the anticipated influx.
At the south Nashville's Tanger Outlets, the strategy includes supplementing officers from the MNPD’s Secondary Employment Unit with officers on bicycles, detectives from the Organized Retail Crimes Unit, and Tanger’s own security personnel to ensure a conspicuous security presence. Traffic personnel from Tanger Outlets will also contribute to managing vehicle flow in the area. Meanwhile, in the vicinity of Green Hills Mall and Nashville West, School Resource Officers are set to beef up the security presence alongside mounted officers and West Precinct officers.
The MNPD's Aviation unit is tasked to keenly watch over these shopping hubs, ready to swiftly relay any suspicious activities to the officers below. This operational synergy is complemented by Traffic Division officers who, along with Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) grant-funded officers, will be vigilantly patrolling major adjacent expressways such as Briley Parkway, I-24, and I-40, keeping a close watch on speeding and aggressive driving. "Speed has been a contributing factor in more than one quarter of this year’s fatality crashes," which have led to the loss of 104 lives this year, the MNPD cited.
In alignment with the THSO’s Thanksgiving Buckle Up, Tennessee campaign, there is also a strong focus on ensuring that vehicle occupants are using seatbelts, as over half of this year's fatal crashes are reported to involve individuals not properly buckled up. Motorists are prompted to practice safety by slowing down, buckling up, and utilizing hands-free modes for their phones.
