By Mike Sparks
A sharp drop in break-ins and stolen cars is putting numbers behind what La Vergne officers have been saying all along, their approach is working. La Vergne is one of those places where you can still see the badge and the neighbor in the same person, and recently the La Vergne Police Department gave folks a chance to sit down face to face with the people who wear that badge.
The department recently hosted a Community Safety Meeting Wednesday at Rock Springs Elementary School in La Vergne. Police Chief Chris Moews and members of his department were there to hear directly from citizens, talk through crime trends, and answer questions about ongoing public safety initiatives.
“Effective policing starts with communication,” LVPD said. “Our mission is not only to respond to calls and investigate crimes, but also to build trust, foster transparency, and work proactively with our community to address concerns before they become larger issues.”
That’s a mission worth showing up for. Whether you’ve got a specific issue on your mind or just want to stay in the loop, this is your seat at the table.
“We encourage all residents to attend, ask questions, share concerns, and learn more about what is happening in your community,” the department said. “Whether you have a specific issue you’d like to discuss or simply want to stay informed, the meeting was an opportunity to have citizen voice heard.
A Faulty Adapter and a 73 Year Old Man’s Peace of Mind
Sometimes the most important police work doesn’t show up in a crime statistic at all.
Members of the La Vergne Police Department recently teamed up with city staff and local residents to help a 73 year old man living at Music City Campground who’d been going without air conditioning in the thick of summer heat. Officers arrived to find a man who simply didn’t have the money to fix his unit and had been trying to tough it out in the sweltering temperatures.
Turned out the problem wasn’t a major repair at all. It was a faulty adapter. Once that adapter came out, the air conditioner kicked right back on.
One officer didn’t stop there. He went out and bought the man a replacement adapter so he’d have a spare on hand if he ever needed it again. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to that resident, who was overcome with gratitude.
That’s the kind of thing that doesn’t make the evening news but ought to. It’s a reminder that behind every badge is a neighbor, and behind every uniform is somebody willing to spend their own money and their own time to make sure an elderly man isn’t sweating through a Tennessee summer alone.
Chief Moews: The Numbers Are Moving in the Right Direction
Chief Chris Moews shared some encouraging news about where the city stands on crime, and it’s the kind of report every La Vergne resident should want to read.
Compared to this time last year, La Vergne has seen:
• 80 percent fewer residential and business burglaries
• 33 percent fewer motor vehicle thefts
• 24 percent fewer theft offenses
• 12 percent fewer assaults
• 31 percent fewer domestic verbal incidents
Those numbers aren’t just numbers. They’re fewer families who didn’t have to become crime victims this year. They’re safer streets and a better quality of life for the people who call La Vergne home.
“As Mayor, public safety is and will always be my top priority.
I want to commend Chief Moews and the
entire La Vergne Police Department for their outstanding work. The significant crime reductions we’re seeing across our city aren’t just numbers — they mean families feel safer in their neighborhoods, businesses can thrive without fear, and our community is growing stronger every day.” — La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole
These results reflect proactive policing, exceptional leadership, and real community partnerships. Every day, our officers, dispatchers, detectives, and support staff serve with professionalism, integrity, and compassion — often in challenging situations.
“Our men and women in uniform are busting at the seems to make our city as safe as possible, will it ever be 100% NO but our chief has taken every step possible to obtain info and we the Board of Mayor and Alderman have given him every tool on his belt to see the public safety through and he and his officers are doing great. Plus his transparency with the public is 2nd to none.”
— La Vergne Vice-Mayor Steve Noe
Chief Moews credits proactive policing for the turnaround. Traffic enforcement is up more than 26 percent, with citations and warnings climbing over 22 percent. As the chief put it, traffic enforcement isn’t about writing tickets. It’s about preventing crashes, deterring crime, recovering stolen vehicles, and keeping dangerous offenders off the road, and the results back that up.
He also praised the department’s detectives and patrol officers for strong clearance rates in major crime categories, and singled out the professionalism his officers have shown during several recent vehicle pursuits, situations that demand sound judgment under real pressure.
