NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A new effort to fight gun crime in Nashville is pairing Metro Nashville police with federal agencies.
The department is launching a seven-member Crime Gun Unit, as part of “Project Safe Nashville,” – which will be the city’s largest-ever interagency effort to fight gun crime.
Mayor David Briley made the announcement Thursday morning and was joined by Police Chief Steve Anderson, District Attorney General Glenn Funk and representatives from federal agencies.
“Addressing violent crime is a major priority for my administration. Project Safe Nashville is an unparalleled interagency effort to save lives and make our city safer. It is a vital next step in preventing future gun crimes and in successfully prosecuting those who commit violent crimes in our city,” said Mayor Briley.
The Crime Gun Unit will consist of six detectives and one sergeant, all of whom have significant experience fighting gun crime and using the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network.
The goal is to have better coordination among agencies to track guns used in crimes. They will use the system to track shell casings from weapons fired in local crimes and try to connect those weapons to other crimes in the area.
During the news conference, Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson displayed a gun recovered at a crime scene.
"It was seized from the bedroom of a convicted drug felon during a probation check by state authorities and our Gang Unit in February 2016. When the gun was test fired and the shell casing analyzed, scientists determined that this same weapon was involved in shootings on Westchester Drive in June 2015, Forest Park Road in December 2015, and Gwynnwood Drive in December 2015," Anderson said.
Anderson said with that information, the convicted drug felon, John Hendricks, was charged with a federal firearms offense and is currently in federal prison.
Ten ATF agents will work closely with the unit and will be divided among the North, South, Hermitage and East police precincts. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will assist when it relates to crime within the state.
Click here to view Metro's crime map.
