CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville Rotary Club welcomed Police Chief David Crockarell, along with his two Deputy Chiefs, as guests at their meeting on Wednesday, July 15.
Crockarell was sworn in as Clarksville’s Chief of Police on Tuesday, June 30, succeeding the now retired Al Anlsey. In his two weeks in office, he has spoken at a number of community functions, addressing concerns surrounding police reform, funding, recruitment and the character of our local law enforcement.
“I am doing more and more of these types of events lately because the community demands it and the nation demands it. Accepting this transition, I never would have imagined that law enforcement as a profession would be under the microscope in such a light as it is today,” said Croackarell.
Crockarell discussed the national debate surrounding law enforcement following incidents such as the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn.
“I firmly believe, and this is my personal opinion. I think we all would agree that a murder was committed. I do believe there was racism at least at the hands of the initial officer. Additionally, you have the officers who were too afraid to intervene, maybe they agreed with what was going on, but there was a culture of meanness,” said Crockarell.
He shared his belief that such incidents stem from a cultural problem within some police forces, but that Clarksville has taken, and will continue to take, steps to foster a better relationship between Clarksville’s community and his officers.
“[The officers in Minneapolis] went through their shift on a daily basis and, given the opportunity, they were rude, mean and not holding up their agreement to protect and serve.”
“That is not what we have here, not at all. Not in Clarksville. I said we are not perfect, but what we strive to be is professional, kind, fair and loyal. We make mistakes, I have said that more than once today and I am saying it everywhere I go, but we are accountable. I am accountable, they are accountable, the rank and file officer, every officer on the road is accountable.”
Crockarell went on to express his skepticism of calls to defund or otherwise restrict police officers.
“I don’t know where you stand on that, but I do find it ironic that a lot of people that want to have demonstrations or protests to showcase the need to defund police are also requesting police presence to protect them. We can’t go nowhere folks. Can you imagine a bump in the night and there’s no one to call.
“You can’t remove our funding. If you remove our funding I remove the training, and the training is what you supply to prevent Minneapolis. [Our officers] don’t make enough money. You’re gonna have to pay them more. You’re gonna have to add cops. We need more. We don’t have enough”
Crockarell also shared his concern with negative public sentiment toward law enforcement as an institution.
“We’ve got improvements to make. I say that in front of God and all. We have nearly 400 employees. Sometimes they have a bad day. Sometimes they are rude. They will reveal themselves, and they are accountable, and we will deal with it. But let me remind you, every organization and every business has the same problem. I’ve had a bad waitress before. I married a waitress. I don’t cast a broad brush across all waitresses because one time I had poor service. There’s a lot of officers. There are a million of us, and a small few ruin things for the rest of us.”
Crockarell said that one key improvement CPD needs to make is an increase in diversity.
“Our goal is to mirror our community. We are not diverse enough. We have been saying this for years. We need African Americans, Hispanics, females, Asians, that’s our goal, a very diverse agency. We want to send an officer into the community that, when they get out of the car and the person that has dialed 911 sees this person as someone they can relate to, maybe someone they were raised with, and that officer is able to leave that situation in a much more positive light. They understand each other.”
Crockarell would also like to see an increase in the number of officers. During his time as Chief, he said that he hopes to grow the force from approximately 312 officers between 380 and 390.
“They only come one way and that is through professionalism and support from our community. If we are jerks, corrupt, or anything in that arena of unprofessional individual, you all will not support that.”
But, at the end of the day, Chief Crockarell said he remains proud of his profession and of the work done by CPD officers.
“I have been saying this openly, and I will speak with my heart. It’s the only thing I know how to do. We are not ashamed to be cops,” said Crockarell.
“What takes place in some jurisdictions, although we accept it and we own it and it stings, that is now what we are or who we strive to be, but we will not hide the fact that we are cops. And, this badge isn’t tarnished, I can tell you that. We stand tall. And we do that because we love our community, and we do that because we are invited. We are supported.”