Writing a “Keep Brentwood Safe” newsletter turned out to be a bigger job than I thought when I started composing it.

The first draft started in January and was mostly about Brentwood’s outstanding public safety with a focus on Brentwood Police, Fire & Rescue. In recent years we have invested in a state-of-the-art police headquarters, added a 5th fire station, and purchased various equipment and training systems to equip our team with the best resources available. While Brentwood is not crime-free, we have experienced a significant drop in total calls for police assistance.

Since January, it does not seem like a week has gone by without shocking news.  I’ve spoken to various residents about everything from our train safety protocols, derailment mitigation, firearm safety, school safety, passenger vehicle/road safety, and personal safety.  It is a heart-wrenching process made particularly difficult the drumbeat of tragedies, including the one at Covenant just miles from Brentwood.

What has compelled me to write this is what I’ve found as I’ve investigated these issues.  Whether it is our train safety and emergency response protocols, active engagement with CSX Railroad, our school safety process and SRO program with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the response time of our police and fire departments, or the many, many public facing programs available, our departments from the top down are incredibly competent and professional.  We have written protocols and plans in place for a wide range of contingencies, which helps us minimize the impact if something bad or truly evil comes to town.  Brentwood is incredibly blessed to have men and women who take their responsibility to heart at the deepest level and demonstrate their commitment daily.

I know everyone processes these kinds of things differently.  In my case, these events serve as a reminder to hug my kids, connect to family and friends, and continue to do my level best every day I’m on the Brentwood City Commission to support our public safety departments.

Be safe out there.

Nelson Andrews

Vice Mayor

City of Brentwood TN

Nelson.Andrews@BrentwoodTN.gov

615-917-1384 (call or text)

If you know someone who would be a good addition to our Brentwood Public Safety Team, please give them the link so they can start the process to see if there is a good match: Employment | City of Brentwood (brentwoodtn.gov) for the BWPD and Employment | City of Brentwood (brentwoodtn.gov) for Fire and Rescue.

Resources:

• City of Brentwood Police
• City of Brentwood Fire & Rescue: Fire and Rescue
• City of Brentwood Emergency Communications
• Crime mapping tool:  Helping Build a Safer Community
• D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructors at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
• R.A.D.(Rape Aggression Defense) Basic, Advanced, and Weapons Defense
• C.R.A.S.E.(Citizens Response to Active Shooter Events) Instruction
• Women’s Self Defense Class
• Report activity if you think it is suspicious: “If you see something, say something”:
• Property Inventory – Brentwood Police works with “ReportIt” – a secure inventory system that lets you store serial number, item descriptions, pictures, and scans of receipts so that your items may be more easily identified in the event of theft or loss.
• Neighborhood watch program: Neighborhood Watch | City of Brentwood
• Citizen Police Academy: Citizen Police Academy | City of Brentwood
• Citizen Fire Academy: Citizens Fire Academy | City of Brentwood
• Child Seat Installation:  Child Safety Seat Installation | City of Brentwood
• Community CPR: Community CPR | City of Brentwood
• Williamson County Emergency Management Agency: Emergency Management Agency | Williamson County, TN
• Williamson County Sherriff’s Department School Resource Officer Program: School Resource Officers | Williamson County, TN

“From Brentwood, For Brentwood”