Monthly Archives: December 2016

Drinking, Driving, & the Moment of Impact; A look at the unimaginable pain that impaired driving brought to one Franklin family

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Tonight, many will celebrate the accomplishments of 2016 while waiting in anticipation for the countdown to a new year. Alcohol will be at the center of many New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight. The problem with the drinking many are likely to do is their decision to drive home that follows, and the life-changing moment of impact that can follow one bad decision.

lori

(Lori Webb, the way her mom remembers her)

Let’s go back to 1971. The Webbs were on their way home from Roy’s work where they had gone to pick up some peaches. Roy’s wife, Millie, who was seven months pregnant, was craving them. In a moment, their lives were changed when an impaired driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 slammed into them from behind on Murfreesboro Road near I-65. Millie’s neck was broken and she suffered burns over 75% of her body. Roy was severely burned. Their 4-year-old daughter, Lori, and 19-month old nephew, Mitch, were both killed. Little Mitch died six hours after the crash. Lori endured two weeks of treatment for excruciating burns that covered 75% of her body before dying in the hospital. That baby – very awake, and very aware, never got to experience her mother’s touch again before dying a broken little girl. In fact, Lori was buried before Millie was even strong enough to be told that she had died. Millie’s unborn baby, Kara, was born premature and legally blind. Now in her forties, and a mom herself, Kara’s never clearly seen a sunset, a rainbow, or the faces of her own children light up when they score a point at a game.

Millie Webb is not just a former Mothers Against Drunk Driving National President. She’s not just a woman who was instrumental in lowering the legal limit from .10 to .08. She is a friend to the Franklin community, and the matriarch of a ravaged family who helped to start Tennessee’s first Mothers Against Drunk Driving Chapter in 1981. Millie Webb is the mother of a victim. She is the aunt of a victim and wife of a victim. She herself is the unfortunate victim of the reality of impaired driving.

Fines, bond, attorney fees, and increased insurance premiums are a few of the expenses you can look forward to footing the bill for, if you drink and drive. MSN Money reports that the typical DUI arrest ends up costing about $10k. Today, the average no-frills funeral cost about $8,000. If you get behind the wheel of a car after you’ve been drinking tonight, you may end up with a ride in a police car, or a hearse. Either will cost you, and others – dearly. Don’t believe it could happen to you? Let us introduce you to the Webbs.

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Franklin Police arrest 68 shoplifters, recover $36K in stolen merchandise in 30-days

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not-in-our-mall-graphicIn just 30 days Franklin Police worked with store security teams at the Cool Springs Galleria to recover $36,000.00 in merchandise shoplifted by thieves. Six plain-clothes officers from Franklin Police Department’s Flex Team concentrated on Franklin’s Cool Springs area during operation “Not in our mall,” which ran from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. The operation, aimed at safeguarding shoppers and arresting criminals, netted 68 shoplifting arrests – 53 of which were felonies.

“Using a combination of plain-clothes police officers in unmarked cars and uniformed officers, we set out to keep shoppers safe this Christmas,” said Chief Deborah Faulkner. “We also wanted to send a very strong message to criminals: Not in Franklin, and not in our mall.” Franklin Police are working closely with the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute offenders arrested during this operation to the fullest extent of the law.

(Sampling of some of the stolen merchandise recovered by Franklin Police)

(Sampling of some of the stolen merchandise recovered by Franklin Police)

Franklin Police Department
Professional, Progressive, Responsive
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Chief Faulkner promotes new Sergeant

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At this afternoon’s roll call at Police Headquarters, Franklin Police Chief Deborah Faulkner promoted Detective Brigham Van Hook to Sergeant. “Sergeant Van 111Hook has demonstrated admirable skill and heart in his tenure with the FPD,” said Chief Deborah Faulkner. “His promotion to Sergeant will allow him to continue his extraordinary service to our Department and the Franklin Community in new ways.”

Sergeant Van Hook has been assigned to the Department’s Alpha Shift, which starts its tour of duty at 9:00 p.m. Van Hook came to the Franklin Police Department from Rutherford County Juvenile Detention in 2007.

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Crime Stoppers cash offered for info on Kroger crook: (615) 794-4000

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suspect-for-2016004532

Franklin Police want to identify this suspect who stole a case of Budweiser and carton of cigarettes from the Columbia Avenue Kroger. The FPD and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information on his identity: (615) 794-4000. Callers will remain anonymous.

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Franklin Police want to identify this suspect who used a cloned credit card; Cash in with Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000

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Franklin Police are seeking help from the public to identify this suspect. Earlier this month he used a cloned credit card to fraudulently purchase $340 in merchandise from Sam’s Club in Franklin. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 cash for information on this suspect’s identity: (615) 794-4000. All callers remain anonymous.

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Suspect in Lowe’s tool theft identified, now wanted; Know where Christopher Lanier is? Cash in with Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000

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Franklin Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information that leads to Christopher Lanier, wanted for stealing a DeWalt power tool set from the Cool Springs Lowe’s on December 7. Lanier fled with the $200 set after an employee attempted to stop him. Lanier is a convicted felon currently on probation. Officers believe that he may be staying in the Rutherford County area. Information on Lanier’s whereabouts is worth up to $1,000 with an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000.

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Detectives seeking suspects who fired shot during overnight carjacking in Franklin

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Update: In addition to the reward available through Crime Stoppers, Franklin Police are offering a $5,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest in this case. 

Franklin Police are investigating a violent overnight carjacking that happened at the apartment complex at 700 Westminster Drive. At 3:45 this morning, four black male suspects in a small, sporty red car pulled up next to the victim who was arriving at the complex. The two suspects in the front seat motioned for the victim to roll down his window and then asked for directions. While the victim was looking directions up on his phone to assist, one of the suspects in the back seat quietly approached, pressed the barrel of his gun to the victim’s temple, and ordered him out of the car. Despite the fact that the victim complied, the suspect fired a shot at him while stealing his car. The suspect missed, and the victim was uninjured.

mercuryPolice are searching for four black male suspects and two vehicles: the small red sporty car that the suspects arrived in, and the victim’s stolen 2004 black Mercury Grand Marquis, similar to the example shown here. It has damage to the front bumper, and at the time of the theft was bearing TN license plate 7C 95 V9. Detectives believe that this case may be related to two other overnight carjackings, in Wilson and Davidson Counties.

Information in this case is worth up to $1,000
with an anonymous call to
Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000

Serious injury crash, fire closes I-65 S McEwen Drive Exit

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65 S Exit to McEwen

Traffic Reconstructionists from the Franklin Police Department’s Critical Incident Response Team are investigating a serious injury crash that has had the I-65 South exit ramp to McEwen Drive closed since 4:10 pm.

The driver of a 2016 Nissan Versa was witnessed driving erratically moments before losing control and colliding with a brick sign on McEwen Drive. The car burst into flames moments after a heroic citizen pulled the driver and lone occupant from the wreckage.

The driver, a 52-year-old local man, suffered serious injuries and is in critical condition. He is a suspect in an injury hit-and-run crash that occurred on Cool Springs Boulevard near Frazier Drive just minutes prior. The victim in that crash suffered only minor injuries. The I-65 S McEwen Drive exit remains closed at this hour.

Check http://www.twitter.com/FranklinTNPD for updates on that closure.
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Franklin Police charge 2 California women, local man in Cool Springs prostitution case

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Royale Nixon Age: 25 Sacramento, CA

Royale Nixon
Age: 25
Sacramento, CA

Franklin Police have arrested two prostitutes from California at a Cool Springs hotel. Acting on a lead yesterday afternoon, FPD Narcotics and Vice Detectives obtained search warrants for two rooms at the TownePlace Suites Hotel on South Springs Drive in Franklin. During the investigation, Detectives determined that a stolen credit card had been used to rent the rooms being used for prostitution. Several cell phones, gift cards, more than $1,000 cash, and other evidence associated with prostitution were seized.

Destiny Wincentsen Age: 19 Modesto, CA

Destiny Wincentsen
Age: 19
Modesto, CA

Royale Nixon and Destiny Wincentsen, both from California, were arrested and charged with Prostitution, Identity Theft, and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. Nixon and Wincentsen each remain jailed on $40,000 bonds. Detectives issued a misdemeanor citation, as required by law, to John Brennan, charging him with Patronizing Prostitution. Brennan was found with one of the women during the execution of the search warrants. All three suspects are due in court on 12/29/2016 at 1:00pm.

John Brennan Age: 58 Franklin, TN

John Brennan
Age: 58
Franklin, TN

Chief Deborah Faulkner wants these arrests to send a clear message to prostitutes and their Johns: not in Franklin. “Prostitution is an ugly, illegal business that Franklin Police Officers will aggressively combat. It simply will not be tolerated.” This investigation is ongoing, and charges against additional Johns is possible.

Tips on suspected prostitution
are worth up to $1,000 with an anonymous call to
Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000.

Click to submit an anonymous eTip,
or text 615FPD and your tip to 847411.

Franklin Police Lieutenant Graduates from FBI National Academy; FPD Committed to Training and Excellence

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20161216_123008Lieutenant David Prather, a 19-year Franklin Police veteran, graduated today from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

This 266th session of the program included 222 graduates from 48 states and 20 countries. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training to law enforcement leaders with proven records as professionals within their organizations. FBI Director James Comey was the principal speaker at today’s graduation.

Lieutenant Prather is among the 49,686 graduates who now represent the alumni of the FBI National Academy since its inception in 1935. “The FBI National Academy is recognized as one of the top law enforcement executive training programs in the world,” said Chief Deborah Faulkner. “I congratulate Lieutenant Prather on this momentous accomplishment.”

Chief Deborah Faulkner, Deputy Chief Chris Gentry, Lieutenant John Lawrence, Lieutenant Rob Lenters, Lieutenant David Prather and Lieutenant Charles Warner are the current Franklin Police leaders who have graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Franklin Police Department
Professional, Progressive, Responsive
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