CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Ty Burdine has been with the Clarksville Police Department since 1997, and his favorite times have been as sergeant, when he could be on the road while also leading a team. However, he said he learned the most in his later role leading the Professional Integrity Unit. He has also served as a criminal investigator, commander of the Tactical Unit, and deputy chief of Police Operations.
Now, Burdine is taking those 27 years of experience, training and lessons learned into his new role as Clarksville’s Chief of Police.
In an interview with Charlie Koon on Clarksville Conversations, Burdine said he’s had a “front row seat” to what a great police chief should be in his predecessors, Chief Al Ansley and Chief David Crockarell, but he never set out to become a police chief.
“I’ve never desired more power; I’ve always wanted more purpose,” Burdine said. That desire for purpose led him to throw his hat in the ring for chief: to have more influence on CPD and its mission.
‘Humanize the badge’
One of Burdine’s priorities will be community engagement. Several years ago, CPD created the Community Relations Unit to “humanize the badge,” as he put it. At the same time, they created JET – the Juvenile Engagement Team – to work with and mentor kids with “less of a handcuff approach.” CPD also brought the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program to Kenwood, Rossview and West Creek High Schools, teaching conflict resolution, financial management and other skills.
Burdine said that these efforts are about “finding ways to connect to kids, to the youth, to change their behavior by being a mentor, through a relationship. And it’s been very effective.”
Through these programs and others, like Coffee With a Cop, speaking events and Burdine’s own open-door policy, he wants to see stronger connections between police officers and the community they serve, to address their concerns about crime, safety and other matters. “Come out so we can listen just as much as we talk,” he said.
It’s not cars and bullets anymore
The Clarksville Police Department stays busy, not only in reaction but also in active involvement. Last year, they had about 65,000 calls for service. Additionally, police officers had about 52,000 self-initiated activities. “They’re a very proactive bunch,” Burdine said.
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Of course, more could be done, and the new chief plans to improve staffing at CPD, aiming to get the ratio up to the national average of 2.2 officers per 1,000 population. Currently, they would need another 40 officers to do that, and CPD is at 1.98 officers per 1,000. They are working to reach that goal incrementally, trying to hire an additional 10-15 officers per year.
“It’s hard to do all at once,” Burdine said, particularly considering the cost. Hiring an officer involves more than salary and benefits, and more than just another patrol car. Each officer needs to be outfitted with a belt, gun, taser, uniform and body-worn camera, plus additional patrol cars and the high-tech equipment they require. And, of course, training.
“It’s becoming very expensive to run an agency. It’s not like it was when I first came on (in 1997), when cars were the driving force of budgets, and personnel and bullets. It’s not that way anymore. It’s staying ahead of technology and software,” Burdine said. “All of that adds up.”
Training and de-escalation
Burdine said CPD stays on top of training more than most police departments, and that involves much more than firing bullets at a gun range.
“We’re one of the best-trained agencies in the state of Tennessee,” Burdine said, particularly when it comes to de-escalation. “We’ve really pushed into that,” he said. “All this gear that I’ve got on – the strongest tool on our belts is our mouth. You respond to calls, and your mouth can get you out of trouble if you do it right. ”
He said CPD’s officers have demonstrated a lot of emotional composure in their reactions to the situations they have to handle. “It’s made me proud,” he said.
For the full interview, play the link above or go to Clarksville Conversations.
Charlie Koon contributed to this report.
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