DIAL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCY CALLS WITHIN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD

GENERAL
The primary objective of the Springfield Police Department is to strive for a community free from crime and disorder, consistent with the values of a free society. The department's role is to enforce the law in a fair and impartial manner, recognizing both the statutory and judicial limitations of police authority and the constitutional rights of all persons.

The department is currently staffed with thirty-eight (38) commissioned officers and fifteen (15) civilian employees serving as public safety dispatchers, records clerks, office managers and secretaries. The Springfield Police Department provides assistance to and receives assistance from the Robertson County Sheriff's Department and all other public safety agencies within Robertson County.

PATROL DIVISION
The Springfield Police Department uniformed Patrol Division comes in contact with the most citizens of any division. Their primary function includes, but is not limited to, preventative patrol, response to calls for service, traffic control, direction and enforcement to ensure maintenance of public order, crisis intervention, and the development of relationship within the community. This division is composed of a Lieutenant, five (5) sergeants, five (5) master patrol officers, and sixteen (16) patrol officers. The Patrol Division works twelve-hour shifts with the exception of the bicycle unit which has a forty (40) hour work week.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
The Criminal Investigation (Detective) Division is made up of police officers assigned to conduct criminal investigations. This division investigates all crimes against persons and property including homicides, auto thefts, burglaries, narcotic violations and juvenile crime. The division is composed of a Lieutenant, four (4) detectives for personal and property crimes and one (1) detective assigned to investigate child abuse and sex crimes. The criminal investigation unit also has patrol officers on special assignment who work narcotics enforcement.

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
The Communications Division is staffed by a communications supervisor, eight (8) full-time dispatchers and two (2) part-time dispatchers. These operators dispatch City of Springfield police and fire units, as well as all utility departments after 4:30 p.m. The City of Springfield has an enhanced 911 system whereby any resident of Springfield who dials 911 for an emergency has their call answered by the dispatchers. The enhanced 911 system shows the dispatchers the name, address and telephone number of the person requesting help.

RECORDS DIVISION
The Records Division maintains all vehicle accident reports, offense reports, citations, and arrest reports generated by the officers of the department. The Records Division is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Persons wishing to have copies of reports may acquire them from the Records Division after a period of forty-eight (48) hours has elapsed since the reports were filed. Persons requesting a copy of a report should reference either a case number or event number which they can obtain from the police officer taking the report. The presentation of a case or event number will greatly assist the records clerk in generating a copy of the report.

BICYCLE PATROL
In 1994 the Springfield Police Department began the operation of a bicycle patrol unit in partnership with the Springfield Housing Authority. Currently, five (5) officers are assigned to this unit which has a neighborhood precinct located on Richard Street. The unit is partially funded through grants obtained by the Springfield Housing Authority.

SPECIAL UNITS
Special units of the Police Department include the K-9 unit. The canine officer is "IWON" a Dutch Shepherd trained to detect narcotics and for tracking and building searches. The canine training lasted for a period of six (6) months before IWON was able to assume his duties. He was trained under the guidelines of the United States Police Canine Association.

The department also has a S.P.E.A.R. Team (Springfield Police Emergency Assault Rescue Team) that is specially trained to handle calls such as hostage situations, barricaded suspects, and the execution of high-risk search warrants. The members of the team train monthly and have full-time patrol or investigation duties with the department.

CRIME PREVENTION
The Police Department is always interested in preventing crime through neighborhood watch programs. Anyone wishing to start a neighborhood watch program should contact Lieutenant Jeff White by calling 382-2226.

CRIME STOPPERS
The Police Department also operates a Crime Stoppers telephone line. Anyone wishing to provide information about any crime can call 382-COPS (2677). Persons providing information remain anonymous and can earn up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the information provided. For more information about Crime Stoppers contact Lieutenant William Watkins by calling 384-3169.

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARMS
The City of Springfield requires that all burglar and fire alarms be registered with the Police Department. The City allows each owner of an alarm up to three (3) false alarms in a calendar year. After the third false alarm, each successive false alarm within the calendar year will result in the alarm owner being assessed a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) service charge. The false alarm ordinance may be accessed on-line by returning to the City of Springfield Home Page and clicking on City Ordinances. Title 11, Chapter 3 of the City of Springfield Municipal Code addresses false alarms.

FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY GRADUATES
The department currently has six (6) officers who have attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia including: Police Chief Mike Wilhoit, Assistant Chief Danny Johnson, Lieutenant Jimmy Grogan, Lieutenant William Watkins, Detective Madison Burnett and Detective Terry Dorris. The FBI National Academy consists of twelve (12) weeks of management level training and is considered to be the top ranked law enforcement training facility for local and state law officers. It is an honor to be selected to attend this training program which has graduated over thirty-five thousand (35,000) law enforcement officers.

HOMELAND SECURITY
The department is actively involved in the activities of Tennessee Homeland Security District 7 which encompasses Robertson, Montgomery, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties. The City of Springfield has recently brought into service the new trunked radio system which is being installed in each county within Homeland District 7. The new radio system allows public safety departments within a county, within neighboring counties, or throughout the homeland security district to communicate with one another individually or collectively in the event of a natural or man-made emergency or disaster.

SIREN WARNING SYSTEM
The City of Springfield has installed an outdoor warning system using an Omni-directional high powered voice and siren system. The system is used to notify the public in the event of tornado warnings and other types of potential natural and man-made disasters. The siren warning system is tested on the first Saturday of every month at noon.

FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING
Since 1994 the Springfield Police Department has received over one million dollars in Federal government grant funding. This money has been used to partially or fully fund salaries and benefits for eight (8) new police officer positions and a secretary position. The funding also enabled the department to purchase an automobile, computer equipment, electronic fingerprint equipment, investigative equipment and video cameras.

SPRINGFIELD POLICE EXPLORER POST 0183
The Springfield Police Department has sponsored an Explorer Post for the last sixteen (16) years. Explorers is a program of the Boy Scouts of America and our Post is designed for young people, both male and female, from the ages of 14 to 20 who are interested in law enforcement as a possible career. In addition to learning about the day to day operations of the Police Department, the Explorers help with many community events such as the Robertson County Fair, the American Cancer Society's Relay-for-Life, and the Springfield Parks and Recreation Department's Winter Wonderland. Each year during the summer the Post goes to Montgomery Bell State Park for a week to participate in a miniature Police Academy where the Explorers experience a taste of what certified police officers do. The Explorer Post also travels annually to competition in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where they compete against other Police Explorer Posts from fifteen (15) other states. For donations or information concerning the Springfield Police Department Explorer Post, please contact Master Police Officer Thad Dorris at 615-382-2225.

POLICE DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Emergency Calls 911
Non-Emergency Calls 384-8422
Crime Stoppers 382-2677
Chief Mike Wilhoit 382-2225
Assistant Chief Danny Johnson 382-2225
Lieutenant Jimmy Grogan 382-2218
Detective Division 382-2230
Lieutenant William Watkins 384-3169
Lieutenant Jeff White 382-2226
Records Division 382-2222

CONTACTS
Springfield Police Department
802 Willow Street
Springfield, Tennessee 37172
Business Telephone: 615-384-8422
Fax Number: 615-382-1634

Mike Wilhoit, Chief of Police
Danny Johnson, Assistant Chief of Police