Lee gives update on school safety efforts
A release from Gov. Bill Lee’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released a video update on key actions the Lee administration has taken to enhance school safety following Executive Order 97, which directed state agencies to engage parents, increase transparency and collaborate with local law enforcement and school districts.
“Our administration has taken meaningful steps to further strengthen school safety in Tennessee by engaging parents, evaluating security measures and strengthening partnerships with law enforcement,” said Lee. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our children, and I thank Tennesseans for doing their part as we continue our coordinated effort to protect students and teachers across the state.”
The Lee administration has taken the following actions to further enhance school safety across Tennessee and promote engagement with parents, schools and law enforcement:
Engaging Parents
— More than 10,000 Tennesseans are using the Safe TN app, a free resource to quickly and confidentially report safety concerns at a child’s school, with a record 2,000 downloads this month
— Expanded School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons to cover all 95 counties
— Mobile crisis providers are available to families across the state and can be reached by dialing ‘988’
Securing Schools
— Every Tennessee school has completed a physical school security assessment – a total of 1,838 schools
— More than two-thirds of school districts – 104 districts – have participated in school safety training
Frequent, unannounced checks are being prioritized to see that school doors latch and precautions are in place— Every school district has received an updated School Safety Plan Template
Partnering with Law Enforcement
— State and local law enforcement have collaborated to provide proven, hands-on active shooter training courses in each Grand Division
— Updated training has been provided to more than 600 School Resource Officers
— Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers are building stronger relationships with local school leadership
In the coming months, additional resources will be made available to support parents, teachers and law enforcement in improving school security practices. Future actions will include:
— Tennessee parents and schools will have access to a new School Safety Resource and Engagement Guide
— School districts will receive updated building security standards
— State and local law enforcement will be supported through improved recruitment and training efforts
21 now charged in motorcycle gang case
Two more people have been charged in the federal case against members and associates of the Clarksville chapter of the Mongols Motorcycle gang.
The indictments returned by the federal grand jury in Nashville brings the total number of defendants in the case to 21.
Meth use hits record high in Tennessee
While much attention has been paid to the opioid epidemic in the state, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says meth use is an an all time high.
“Meth is here. It’s everywhere. We’re at the point now where we’re saturated at the street level with methamphetamine,” said Kyle Hixson, the Deputy District Attorney General in Knox County tells WBIR-TV. “It’s still killing people. It still is dangerous as it ever was. Unfortunately here in Knoxville, I’m afraid to say, we probably have more of it than we’ve ever had.”
Acting TBI director investigated for alleged misuse of funds during affair
Acting TBI Director Jason Locke has been accused of misusing state funds by his wife and is now the subject of an investigation, reports The Tennessean and other media.
Haslam appoints Knoxville police chief as new TBI director
Press release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the appointment of David B. Rausch as director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
Reports of elder abuse prompt raid on legislative candidate’s business
An assisted living facility in Cookeville partly owned by Ed Butler, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination in the state House District 41 seat now held by Democratic Rep. John Mark Windle of Livingston, has been raided by authorities amid reports that some elderly residents have been mistreated.
TN Kratom confusion moves from legislature to law enforcement
A provision in Gov. Bill Haslam’s legislation dealing with opioid abuse caused considerable argument in the General Assembly over whether Kratom should be made illegal in Tennessee – and considerable confusion among law enforcement officers remains after the House and Senate finally reached a compromise in passing the measure, reports WSMV.
The Senate at one point voted for a total ban while the House voted to leave Kratom unrestricted under state law. Under the final version, Kratom remains legal to purchase and possess in its “natural form” for persons over the age of 21.
Sheriff’s deputies disciplined for cuffing, cussing and threatening man recording a traffic stop
A man who was cuffed, cussed and curtailed from recording a Bradley County Sheriff’s Office traffic stop in April says he’s glad to hear two officers involved in the incident have been disciplined, reports the Times Free Press.
Former Nashville judge pleads guilty to corruption charges
Former Davidson County General Sessions Court Judges Casey Moreland pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges involving an attempted bribe and stealing from a program for recovering drug addicts, reports The Tennessean.
‘Humiliating’ treatment of only woman interviewed for TBI director draws protests
Leaders of some women’s groups are protesting the treatment of Marjorie Quin – the only woman considered for nomination as new director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – when she was interviewed by the TBI Nominating Commission, according to Nashville news media. Quin is a retired TBI agent who specialized in handling sex trafficking cases.
