Chief Drake Announces Enhanced Security on Metro School Campuses

Chief John Drake today announced that police coverage at Metro Schools for the upcoming school year that begins next Monday will be the highest ever, and will include elementary, middle and high school campuses.

“The May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, just days before the semester ended for our own Metro School students, shocked the conscience of Nashvillians and left us all in sheer disbelief,” Chief Drake said. “Very soon after the Uvalde tragedy, I directed that members of our police department, led by Deputy Chief Mike Alexander, begin meetings with MNPS leadership to develop plans for enhanced security measures.”

Chief Drake announced that beginning August 8, officers will be present and highly visible at all public elementary schools in an overtime capacity for several hours each day. Campuses will also be regularly visited by on-duty officers, to include those at the precinct level or those in the Special Operations Division (including Traffic Unit and motorcycle officers).

A longer-term plan for elementary schools calls for the hiring of part-time Safety Ambassadors, who would be on campuses each day. The Safety Ambassadors would be unarmed employees of Metro Schools. They would be assigned a radio with a police frequency, and would work daily with MNPS security staff and, as necessary, MNPD officers. Recently retired MNPD officers are being sent letters asking them to consider applying to be a Safety Ambassador.

Middle schools will receive daily coverage by School Resource Officers on a rotating basis so that each campus will have an SRO present for hours at a time during each school day. Additionally, SROs will be teaching Drug Abuse Resistance Education and conflict resolution programs to 6th through 8th graders in all MNPS middle schools.

All 13 comprehensive high schools will have at least two officers assigned to them. There will also be a coordinated police presence at the magnet high schools.

“Keeping sight of our staffing levels, our plan for the upcoming school year attempts to strike the right balance to enhance the safety of students and teachers with the greatest number of officers on campuses in our history, while at the same time protecting Nashville’s neighborhoods and businesses,” Chief Drake said.

The plan utilizing officers on overtime and the anticipated creation of part-time elementary school Safety Ambassadors is presently estimated to cost between $5 million to $6 million.

Chief Drake was joined in this morning’s announcement by Metro Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle.

“I’m grateful for Chief Drake’s willingness to dedicate MNPD resources to provide an extra layer of visibility and protection for our students through this partnership,” Dr. Battle said. “Having an active-duty police officer on campus keeping an eye out for schools and providing a valuable point of contact for principals and administrators is going to go a long way in giving parents, staff, and students a greater level of confidence in their safety.”

“Having additional staff inside the schools, whether retired police officers serving as Safety Ambassadors or campus support positions, will help us ensure that we are putting our safety plans into practice by monitoring for compliance and doing those type of pressure tests that will keep everyone vigilant and alert to their responsibilities around safety, while also ensuring our teachers and staff can remain focused on their daily job of educating and supporting students,” Dr. Battle said.

Nashvillians are reminded that 15 mph school zones will be in operation beginning Monday morning. With enhanced traffic that comes with the return to school, commuters are urged to give themselves extra time on Monday, and to keep an eye out for students walking to school or waiting for buses.

Chief John Drake and Metro Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle detail plans for enhanced security measures at Metro Schools for the 2022-23 school year in a press conference found at this link:

Chief Drake and Metro Schools Director Dr. Battle Press Conference Video