Monthly Archives: June 2014

Chief Rahinsky Accepts Grand Rapids Top-Cop Job; Deb Faulkner named Interim Chief of Police

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Franklin, TN – The City of Franklin and its Police Department confirm that Chief David Rahinsky has tendered his resignation. This afternoon, Chief Rahinsky told City Administrator Eric Stuckey that he was offered, and has accepted, a position as the Chief of Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chief Rahinsky will meet with Mr. Stuckey Monday to confirm when his last day will be with the Franklin Police Department.

“I respect Chief Rahinsky’s decision to pursue a new professional opportunity and wish him the best in this next chapter of his career,” said Eric Stuckey. Tonight, Mr. Stuckey named Deputy Chief Deb Faulkner as his designee who will serve as Franklin’s Interim Chief of Police. “While change invariably occurs in an organization, the Franklin Police Department remains committed to the highest ideals of public service and to excellence in professional law enforcement. I am confident that Deputy Chief Faulkner’s extensive experience, combined with the many talented men and women of the FPD, leaves the Department in very caring, capable hands.”

Deputy Chief Deb Faulkner said, “The City of Grand Rapids is getting an excellent leader, and I certainly extend my best wishes to Chief Rahinsky. In the meantime, Franklin Police Officers and civilian staff will continue to provide professional law enforcement to the citizens of Franklin. While I value the FPD’s past, I look forward to an exciting and challenging future.”

Homeowner Stops Intruder Who Kicked In Back Door; Drug-impaired teen charged with Aggravated Burglary and other charges

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Franklin, TN – Scary moments inside a Franklin Home early Monday morning land a New York teen in serious trouble. Officers were summoned to a residence in the 100 block of Delta drive at 2:44 Monday morning where a homeowner used a gun to confront an intruder who had kicked in his back door while the family lay sleeping inside. The suspect fled after being confronted by the homeowner and was apprehended by responding officers who found the 17-year-old in the street nearby, wearing only a pair of socks.

The suspect, who was under the influence of drugs, had crashed his vehicle at the nearby intersection of Wilson Pike and McEwen Drive prior to the break-in. He was booked into the Williamson County Juvenile Detention Center, charged with Aggravated Burglary, DUI, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and Failure to Report a Crash.

  To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513
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Police Applaud 13 Franklin Businesses for ‘Acing the Test’ | 100% said No ID? No Sale!

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No ID? No Sale!
Franklin, TN – In a special operation last night by Franklin Police, Flex Unit Officers used an under-21 informant to check 13 Franklin businesses. The goal, according to Franklin Police Chief David Rahinsky, “To ensure businesses that sell and serve alcohol are doing their part to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.”

Businesses checked during last night’s operation were:
(1) Gulf, 1116 W. Main St; (2) Del Rio Wine & Spirits, 111 Del Rio Pike; (3) Westside Wine & Spirits, 188 Front St; (4) Case Selects Wine & Spirits, 3046 Columbia Ave; (5) Brinkman’s Wine & Spirits, 103 International Dr; (6) Cool Springs Wine & Spirits, 1935 Mallory Ln; (7) The Bottle Shop, 1556 W. McEwen Dr; (8)  Red Dog Wine & Spirits, 1031 Riverside Dr; (9) Holiday Wine & Spirits, 112 N. Royal Oaks Blvd; (10) Harpeth Liquor & Wine, 1203 Murfreesboro Rd; (11) Franklin Wine & Spirits, 1400 Liberty Pike; (12) Exxon Tiger Mart, 449 Cool Springs Blvd; (13) Daily’s, 501 Cool Springs Blvd.

Franklin businesses that sell or serve alcohol should expect these compliance checks to continue, and avoid the avoidable by educating employees and demanding their compliance. “Our obligation to be sure that they’re acting responsibly is one that we take seriously,” said Chief Rahinsky. “The fact that every business checked, during last night’s operation, was in compliance should make our entire community happy. Sometimes success is measured by what doesn’t happen.”

Anyone with information about the underage sale or use of alcohol can submit a tip by visiting FranklinPDnews.com and clicking Submit an Anonymous Tip
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Telephone Scams On The Rise; FPD: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

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Franklin, TN – Franklin Detectives are investigating two recent phone scams, promising big wins – for a price. On June 16, one Franklin resident reported being contacted by phone and told that she had won more than $1 million dollars in a drawing that she entered in Las Vegas. The caller instructed the victim to overnight a check for $299 to an address in California to start the collection process. That victim didn’t fall for the scam, and reported it to police instead.

Phone ScamThen on June 17, another resident reported being called and told that she had won $1.5 million in the Publishers Clearing House, but that she had to secure her winnings with a small cash investment. The caller instructed the victim to purchase a $299 Green Dot MoneyPak, which she did and then later provided the suspect with the PIN to that card, ultimately losing the money to the scam artist. Both cases are under investigation.

Franklin Police recommend never granting a request to transfer funds through third-party wire or card services. On the main page of its website, MoneyPak lists information on “How to Stop a Scam,” telling consumers to use their MoneyPak number only with businesses on their approved list. The site states, “If anyone else asks for your MoneyPak number or information from your receipt, it’s probably a scam.”

While many of these scams are originating out of the area, even overseas, anyone with information can visit FranklinPDnews.com and click “submit an anonymous tip.”

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Survey Says: Citizens Give Franklin Police 93% Satisfaction Rating; Chief’s initiative & New Year’s resolution pay off, as officers press on

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Franklin, TN – Being true to the New Year’s Resolution that Chief David Rahinsky set for his Department, officers and civilian staff are serving their community with excellence, and the numbers showQuestions it. With an average score of 4.65 out of 5 possible, Chief Rahinsky congratulated his team on their hard work during Tuesday’s staff meeting. “The fact that that our customers have given us a 93% between January and now is a testament to our officers and a great sign that we’re headed in the right direction. We are, however, not going to rest on our laurels and will continue to work as hard as we can to see those ratings grow even higher.” 

Since its inception, the Department’s new Citizen Satisfaction Survey has prompted 73 calls by senior Franklin Police management to members of the public who were personally served by officers between January 3 and June 17. A computer program, built for this specific purpose, randomly selected every citizen participant. Five questions were asked of each customer.

The top-rated question, at 4.74, was #3: How would you rate employee attitude: were they courteous, respectful, & professional in handling your situation? “As a Chief, I couldn’t be happier that this was the highest rated question,” said Chief David Rahinsky. “We’re not just in the law enforcement business; we’re in the people business. Positive officer attitude is one of those things I just never waiver on. Our residents deserve it, and I demand it.”

 Franklin Police Department
Professional, Progressive, Responsive
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West Main Street Shooter Identified, Arrested; No one injured by shot fired during argument

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Franklin, TN – A stolen gun is off the street, and a Franklin man arrested on multiple charges after a West Main Street incident, Wednesday.

Officers were summoned to Jewell’s Market, 1421 W. Main Street, at 3:55pm June 4 after a caller reported that someone fired a shot during an argument in the parking lot. Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly fled in a maroon SUV. With the help of witnesses, officers quickly located the discarded gun in a yard of the nearby Rolling Meadows subdivision. Three men found on foot were detained, questioned and released. The gun was determined to have been stolen during a 2011 home burglary.

COREY CORTEZ JOHNSONCory Cortez Johnson
Date of Birth: 04/24/1993
103 Scruggs Avenue
Franklin, TN 37064

Detectives ultimately identified Cory Cortez Johnson, 21 of Franklin, as the shooter. Johnson was located and arrested by Flex Officers outside of his home yesterday. Cortez, charged with Theft, Reckless Endangerment, and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon is free on a $3,000 bond. He is due in court on 06/19/2014 at 1:00 pm.

To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513
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Alert Sergeant Stops Impaired, Wrong-Way Interstate Driver; Drive Drunk, Get Nailed

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Franklin, TN – Early this morning, an alert patrol supervisor intercepted an impaired driver, and quite possibly prevented a tragedy. At approximately 3:00am, an on-duty sergeant noticed a truck enter the wrong way on the northbound exit ramp from I-65 to McEwen Drive. The driver, 35-year-old Christopher Unck of California, traveled down the ramp and proceeded south in the northbound lanes of I-65. Making the situation even more dangerous: Unck’s headlights were off. He disregarded the sergeant’s lights and siren, traveling the wrong way on the Interstate for approximately one mile before finally pulling over.

CHRISTOPHER BRUCE UNCK

Christopher B. Unck
Date of Birth: 08/22/1978
3194 Deronda Drive
Hollywood, CA 90068

Unck, charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Violation of the Implied Consent Law, is free on a $4,000 bond. He is due in court 06/19/2014 at 1:00 pm.

Impaired driving related crashes constitute one of the nation’s leading health problems. Impairment is a factor in 33% of all crashes in the United States and these events result in more deaths a year than homicides.
Drive Drunk, Get Nailed
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Chief to swear-in new Deputy Chief, Deb Faulkner; Community, media invited to attend brief ceremony Thursday, June 12

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WHO:              David Rahinsky, Chief of Police; Deb Faulkner, Deputy Chief

WHAT:            Swearing-in ceremony for new Deputy Chief

WHEN:            Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 8:00 am

WHERE:          Front steps, Police Headquarters (will move indoors for inclement weather)

DebFranklin, TN – On Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 8:00 am, Chief David Rahinsky will swear Deb Faulkner in as the Franklin Police Department’s next Deputy Chief.

Faulkner, the top-pick from more than 70 applicants, was Tennessee’s first Inspector General. A retired Metropolitan Nashville Police Officer, Faulkner came up through the ranks, serving in Metro’s Patrol Division and various other assignments before retiring at the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. She has her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis; her master’s in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University; and, her doctorate in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University.

“I am excited to have Deb Faulkner join me in leading the Franklin Police Department,” said Chief David Rahinsky. “She is a known commodity in the criminal justice field, and has the experience, education, drive, and vision that will help her to hit the ground running.”

Deb Faulkner is a graduate of Leadership Franklin, Leadership Nashville, and Leadership Middle Tennessee. She is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and past president of the Tennessee Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. Faulkner has served as an adjunct faculty member at Trevecca University, Cumberland University, and Tennessee State University where she has taught classes in Sociology, Criminal Deviancy, and the Management of Law Enforcement Agencies.

Faulkner is the past President for the Fifty Forward Board, YWCA,and the Susan G. Komen Nashville Affiliate. She has also served on the boards of the Girl Scouts, Goodwill, Catholic Charities, CABLE, and Building Lives of Vets.  Deb Faulkner is a recipient of the Athena Award, and was also inducted into the Academy for Women of Achievement.  She received the Girl Scout’s Volunteer Award, CABLE’s Spirit of Leadership Award, the Molly Todd Cup,and the Fifty Forward Harriet Foley Leadership Award.

“The opportunity to serve this City and its police officers begins an exciting new chapter for me,” said Deb Faulkner. “Getting to do what I love in the city I love – is an honor.”

News organizations wishing to cover this event are asked to confirm their attendance by 4pm Wednesday, 06/11/2014, via e-mail to cwarner@franklintn.gov
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Free Women’s Safety Boot Camp by FPD & FFD; Keep your families safe this summer, let us show you how

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ShowImage.aspx_-440x400Franklin, TN – The Franklin Police and Fire Departments are teaming up to offer a new program designed especially for women. The “Women’s Safety Boot Camp” series of four classes will take place from 6 – 8 pm at Franklin Fire Station 2, 907 Murfreesboro Rd. on June 16, 19, 23 and 26.

This free, educational program is designed to provide women with emergency survival skills. Live fire extinguisher training, child and infant CPR, self-defense, and child car seats complete with a vehicle extrication demonstration are among the topics that will be presented.

Participants should commit to attending all four classes. To register, call the Franklin Fire Department at (615) 791-3270 or visit www.franklintn.gov/fire.

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Detectives in Two Cities Want to ID Forgery Suspects; Cash in on up to $1,000 with Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000

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16Franklin, TN – Detectives in Franklin and Lexington (TN) want to identify a group of suspects who passed fraudulent checks at two Franklin banks on May 3.

HTI Technology of Lexington reported that several of their company checks had been stolen. On 05/14/2014, six of those checks, totaling more than $5,000, were cashed at two Fifth Third locations in Franklin (230 Public Square & 3705 Mallory Lane).

If you know who these men are, call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513.     2                    

To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513
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