Leading from the front

Published 5:55 pm Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Newly minted Franklin Police Chief Steve Patterson has been on the job for less than two months, but in that short time has more than made his presence felt. And it has been by design. When we met with Chief Patterson during his first few days on the job, he stated that one of his top priorities would be the visibility of his department in the community. He’s delivering on that promise. Big time.

He and his officers have been very visible at several local events since his arrival. Not so much as a show of force, but to let the community know they are here for us. Downtown businesses have reported increased patrols and visits to their businesses as well. Public efforts to recruit local officer candidates have ramped up significantly. All of these go a long way toward effective community policing.

For a city as small as Franklin, it’s important for residents to know not just that the police are there, but to get to know the men and women behind the badges as well. Chief Patterson is doing a tremendous job facilitating an improved relationship with the community. We look forward to seeing the positive results of his efforts.