KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT - City of Knoxville

LETTER FROM CHIEF TO PUBLICKNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENTTHE CITY OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEEBILL HASLAM, MAYORCHIEF STERLING P. OWENThe Honorable Bill HaslamMayor, City of KnoxvilleDear Mayor Haslam,It is my pleasure to present the 2009 Knoxville Police Department AnnualReport.Tennessee Bureau of Investigation statistics have reported a state average ofoffenses cleared at 35.46%. We are pleased to report that the Knoxville PoliceDepartment clearance rate was 49.92%, indicating excellent performance by thedepartment and an outstanding relationship with the community.The department also acquired a new Negotiator Command vehicle. Thisvehicle is a crucial component to the negotiator unit. The vehicle enables our crisisnegotiators the tools necessary to carry out their duties in a safe and secureenvironment. The vehicle was purchased with federal grant dollars.The Red Light Camera Enforcement initiative continues to be an effectivetool in our commitment to reduce traffic crashes. Since the implementation of theviolation recording devices, we have continued to experience reductions in crashesin all monitored intersections. We believe the program will continue to be animportant component for reducing crashes in the future.As always, your support of this department and its more than 400 officersenables us to protect and serve our community. The Knoxville Police Departmentis looking forward to working with you and city council on future endeavors.Respectively,Sterling P. Owen, IVChief of Police2009 Annual Report 3