Mayoral candidate Dr. Carol Swain spoke out on her plans to support the Metro Nashville Police Department in light of today being Peace Officers Memorial Day.
“This week is National Police Week,” Swain said. “I would like to thank the brave officers who sacrifice their time and put their lives on the line for us each and every day. And although this is a week of recognizing the courageous men and women who serve our city, their efforts and bravery should be celebrated each and every day of the year.”
“Over the past four weeks, I have had the privilege of going on a ride along with North Precinct and have visited the 6:30 am and 2:30 pm Police roll calls across Davidson County. As Nashville’s next mayor, I look forward to ensuring our police department not only has the manpower, the funds and technology needed to effectively serve our community, but that they also feel well respected by our city’s leaders and the community. I speak as a person who holds a degree in criminal justice and understands the needs and challenges of law enforcement. Thank you for all you do!”
Swain is a political scientist and a former professor of political science and professor of law at Vanderbilt and Princeton Universities. She served on the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In March, Swain told The Tennessee Star that the Metro Nashville Police Department has low morale. She blamed low pay among other factors.
“When it comes to the police problems, one of the things is that police don’t get a say in the selection of the police chief,” Swain told The Tennessee Star this week.
“I think it is important that when the next police chief is selected that some representatives of the police department sit on that committee (to choose the chief) and the police officers themselves get an opportunity to decide who will sit on that committee. (They decide) who their representatives will be.”
Swain also said she has ideas on how to lower the city’s crime rate.
“The people (here) are concerned about rising crime, the fact that first responders are so underfunded and there is corruption as well as the lack of any real creative ideas to address affordable housing and the traffic situation,” Swain said.
Nashville officers are writing fewer traffic tickets, with low morale over lost cost-of-living raises and concerns over an officer being investigated after a shooting resulting from a traffic stop, The Star said in February.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Carol Swain Supports Law Enforcement” by Carol Swain.
