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Lebanon Police Chief Mike Justice was unable to attend the panel.

Mayor Hutto said one reason for the panel is to get information to the public about how the county’s different agencies approach public safety.

“Sometimes people are misinformed,� Hutto said.

The law enforcement representatives discussed license plate readers, body cameras and other technology utilized by the departments to combat and prevent crime.

“I’ve seen things change drastically over my career,� Sheriff Bryan said. “They’ll continue to evolve, they’ll continue to change. The training will be better [and] different all the time.�

“It’s a calling to [become] a police officer, to work at emergency services, and then your family knows everyday when you go out, you may not come home,� Hutto said.

Traffic throughout the county, especially on State Route 109, was discussed, with speeding being the primary focus.

“We’ve stopped cars out there doing 85, 90 miles an hour. They lowered the speed limit…it’s a work in progress,� Bryan said. “The thing about 109 is there’s so many roads coming out onto 109.�

Smaller roads connect to SR 109 which increases the risk of collisions when speed is a factor.

“A lot of that traffic that’s on 109 is people coming out of Gallatin, people coming out of Hendersonville, and they’re coming through Wilson County to get to I-40 to avoid I-65 traffic or the I-24 traffic,� MJPD Chief Mullins said.

Artificial Intelligence is utilized by the departments, especially for traffic flow. Signals at intersections have cameras and sensors to monitor and help control the flow of traffic, Chandler explained.

LPD Captain Murray said the signs which display the speed limit and the speed drivers are going record that data, which the department can pull to monitor speeding trends and determine when to place patrols.

License plate readers (LPRs) and public perception of them received a lengthy discussion during the panel. Each representative weighed in on their importance to solving crime.

Sheriff Bryan said despite public fears, which he described as unfounded, LPRs are a tool the county uses to combat crime effectively.

“The entire county is covered in LPRs,� Bryan said. Entrances to the county, particularly at the Davidson County line, have LPRs set up.

Davidson County has not set up any LPRs.

“What they’re not doing in Davidson County is directly affecting Wilson County,� Bryan said.

“Ninety-five% of the people we arrest are not from Mt. Juliet,� Chandler said. According to him, many of the people they arrest are from Nashville.

Body cameras are utilized by all the departments in the county. These record interactions between officers and the public. Cameras are also equipped to law enforcement vehicles.

“Body cams have brought police and community together with trust and transparency,� LPD Captain Murray said.

“Cameras not only protect the community, but also the officers,� Sheriff Bryan added.

Sheriff Bryan said the Wilson County Jail works with inmates to prevent repeat offenses and incarcerations. Counseling and GED classes are offered. According to Bryan, Wilson County has one of the largest inmate GED rates in Tennessee.

Mayor Hutto said the next panel in April will focus on EMS and fire safety.