MNPD: Police Officers or Metro Codes Inspectors?

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Being a police officer doesn’t necessarily translate to being a good judge of Metro Codes violations. In the past 24 months, Metro Police Officers took the time to submit 89 complaints to the codes department during the course of their duties. Of those complaints submitted, 47 (53%) were found to be “No Cause for Action”, “No Violation Found”, or “Duplicate” when inspectors took the time to physically investigate the complaint from the officer, while 27 (30%) found violations that notices were generated for (mostly abandoned vehicles), and a handful remain as open cases.

In a time that the City of Nashville is short on police officers, despite record growth, and in a time when it can take over 6 hours for an officer to show up in non-emergency situations, why are we using our police officers to submit complaints to the codes department? We have a record number of unsolved crimes in this city – while one Metro Officer actually took the time to report a resident of N 2nd Ave for selling candy and drinks without a permit – a complaint which codes quickly kicked back as ‘no violation found’. Where is the leadership in the MNPD that’s setting the correct priorities for these officers on the streets. Why are they worried about selling without permits, a person hoarding, a person sleeping in a tent in the backyard, when we just had 5 shootings in a 12-hour period?

Have all other crimes been solved, and now we’re just depending on the MNPD to generate work for the codes department? Perhaps the officers are doing the bare minimum, since that’s what the city is paying them? Metro  Police Officers were not given their promised Cost of Living raise this year, after all.

We reviewed the most recent 24 months of data from the codes department, specifically, property standards violations submitted by Metro Police Department Officers, and here are some of the violations that the MNPD reported to codes:

“Operating a business from the home – retail sales of drinks, candy, chips, etc. without permits (use not allowed)”

-from complaint 16-1144905. MNPD reported a resident of N 2ND ST for selling drinks, candy, chips, without a permit. Metro Codes found no violation.

“Auto repair in the parking lot – spreading to adjoining parcels – this is a repeat violator, take appropriate action.”

-An officer reported AUTOZONE at 2340 Murfreesboro Pk for allowing people to do small repairs in the parking lot of the auto parts store, even noted that appropriate action should be taken because they are repeat violators. Codes determined that there was no violation when they inspected the property.

“Dilapidated structure – porch is falling off – hole in roof.”

Complaint 17-1155154, Inspectors found no violations upon inspection.

“exposed wiring, extension cords hanging all over”

Complaint 18-1183779, location is a Discount Tobacco Store on Murfreesboro Pk

“Illegal unpermitted structure in the rear and illegal use (persons living in a tent in the rear).”

-from complaint 18-1174146.

“High grass in rear yard – interior of residence unsanitary – trash and debris – overcrowding”

-from complaint 16-1144734.

“trailer on the right of way with an extension cord running to it”

-from complaint 18-1181537. Inspectors  found no violations.

“Unsanitary conditions – hoarding”

-from complaint 16-1146438. Inspectors found no violations.

Do we want our MNPD Officers spending their time reporting high grass, a business using too many extension cords, a person that’s hoarding, a roof that’s falling in? interior upkeep of a house that’s not to their standards? Those are the things that officers are taking the time to report to codes. There are also dozens of ‘vehicle in right of way’ complaints, which may be more appropriate to report, in order to track abandoned vehicles through the proper process – however an officer reporting a resident for selling drinks in front of her house, it just seems a bit much.

A representative from Metro Codes explained that Metro Officers have slips they can fill out during their shifts while on patrol, and then submit so they can be delivered to the codes department, or they can call the codes line, or even use the new hub (311) portal.

Perhaps being a Property Standards Inspector is more lucrative than being a police officer – the average base salary for a PSI II is $60,845, while the average for a PO II is currently $58,978 in Nashville (source data.nashville.gov).

Nashville, are you OK with your officers noticing and reporting codes violations during their calls? For ‘unsanitary conditions’?, for ‘too many extension cords’?, for selling candy and drinks without a permit?

Here’s the full data of from the codes department we used in this story:

SourceRequest #Reported Problem
Metro PD16-1146438Unsanitary conditions - hoarding
Metro PD17-1171501Two abandoned vehicles on the right of way. Nissan Titan and a Nissan Altima.
Metro PD16-1144737Two abandoned vehicles on the right of way.
Metro PD17-1154578Two abandoned vehicles on the right of way - 1998 White Chevy pickup and a 1981 Cadillac.
Metro PD18-1181537trailer on the right of way with an extension cord running to it
Metro PD17-1170970PROBLEM REPORTED
Metro PD17-01158246PROBLEM REPORTED
Metro PD17-1172812PROBLEM REPORTED
Metro PD18-1173629PROBLEM REPORTED
Metro PD17-1172375PROBLEM REPORTED
Metro PD17-1155046per Metro Police unsafe conditions in rooms
Metro PD16-1144905Operating a business from the home - retail sales of drinks, candy, chips, etc. without permits (use not allowed)
Metro PD18-1179597Open storage of junk, trash and building materials. Dilapidated shed, dilapidated main structure. Evaluate for possible Code Repair or Demo. See attached photos.
Metro PD16-1144583Officer Arthur Hitt with MNPD advised there is a RV with generator parked in the parking lot of Lowes, Dollar Tree (with 3 vehicles) for approximately 2 months
Metro PD18-1185922MNPD via Hub #00085028, 24th and McKinney: disabled motor vehicle; blue mazda 4-door; VIN JM1BK32F471624135
Metro PD17-1161073Lot area overgrown - poison ivy
Metro PD17-1155540Junk, trash and debris on the property.
Metro PD17-1172765Inoperable motor vehicle in parking lot
Metro PD17-1154559IMV with flat tires on the street reported by Officer Baptist (MNPD)
Metro PD18-1182478HOW TAKEN: Metro PD
PROHIBITED SIGN
Metro PD17-1159189HOW TAKEN: Metro PD
Overcrowding, Junk trash and debris
Metro PD18-1175117HOW TAKEN: Metro PD
ABANDONED VEHICLE ROW
Metro PD18-1180155High grass/weeds
Metro PD16-1144734High grass in rear yard - interior of residence unsanitary - trash and debris - overcrowding
Metro PD16-1143546Grass is 4 ft tall near sidewalk - system shows we inspected and closed the high grass case out on June 2, 2016 ?????
Metro PD16-1144623furniture and trash in back yard, back deck has holes. The house is not secure
Metro PD16-1144736Fire damaged building - unsecure
Metro PD18-1183779exposed wiring, extension cords hanging all over. officer Michael Dudley 615-512-321
Metro PD17-1171499Dilapidated, abandoned structure - no utilities. Trash and junk in yard
Metro PD18-1183755Dilapidated vacant building - unsecure - homeless living in it - trash and unsanitary conditions
Metro PD18-1174146Dilapidated structure, trash and junk in the yard - repeat violator. Illegal unpermitted structure in the rear and illegal use (persons living in a tent in the rear).
Metro PD16-1149559Dilapidated structure, open storage of junk, trash and debris - inoperable motorcycle.
Metro PD17-1155154Dilapidated structure - porch is falling off - hole in roof.
Metro PD17-1162807dilapidated house
Metro PD18-1186962Dilapidated home
Metro PD17-1167151Burned out vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD17-1161735Auto repair in the parking lot - spreading to adjoining parcels - this is a repeat violator, take appropriate action.
Metro PD18-1175678amv
Metro PD18-1185326Abandoned white trailer
Metro PD17-1156899Abandoned white Honda Civic 2dr on the right of way
Metro PD16-1150467Abandoned vehicle on the right of way on flats - 1972 Ford Pinto LIC # AA68125
Metro PD18-1177439Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - white, 2003 Ford Crown Victoria.
Metro PD17-1156358Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - white Ford E250.
Metro PD18-1175604Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - Suburban GL Station Wagon
Metro PD16-1145115Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - Chrysler Sebring
Metro PD17-1170892Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - 2003 BMW
Metro PD17-1168160Abandoned vehicle on the right of way - 1998 Honda Accord.
Metro PD17-1167401Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD17-1167400Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD16-1142553Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD16-1144510Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD16-1144513Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD17-1167402Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD16-1144739Abandoned vehicle on the right of way
Metro PD18-1175606Abandoned vehicle on right of way.
Metro PD18-1175605Abandoned vehicle on right of way - red KIA Sportage.
Metro PD17-1154579Abandoned vehicle on right of way - Honda Civic.
Metro PD17-1155150Abandoned vehicle on right of way - Chevy S10 truck - vehicle has been stripped
Metro PD18-1173858Abandoned vehicle on right of way
Metro PD16-1142556Abandoned vehicle on right of way
Metro PD17-1172766Abandoned vehicle (Ford Windstar Van) on the right of way.
Metro PD16-1149929Abandoned vehicle (Black Mercedes) on the right of way.
Metro PD16-1149927Abandoned vehicle (2004 Jeep SUV) on the right of way.
Metro PD17-1159946Abandoned vehicle - Toyota - black - TN Lic 922 DD96, on flats.
Metro PD16-1146442Abandoned vehicle - Silver Nissan 350Z
Metro PD16-1146444Abandoned vehicle - Silver Dodge Grand Caravan
Metro PD17-1161072Abandoned vehicle - parked in wrong direction.
Metro PD17-1161069Abandoned Vehicle - parked in front of the church.
Metro PD18-1185325Abandoned vehicle - on two flats
Metro PD17-1159947Abandoned vehicle - Oldsmobile
Metro PD17-1161074Abandoned vehicle - jeep Cherokee Lic# E94 49N
Metro PD18-1183756Abandoned vehicle - Infiniti - TN T89 42J
Metro PD16-1145114Abandoned vehicle - Ford F-150 pickup on two flats
Metro PD16-1146439Abandoned vehicle - Black Mercedes Benz
Metro PD16-1146440Abandoned vehicle - Black GMC Denali
Metro PD17-1156900Abandoned truck on the side of the road
Metro PD16-1147881Abandoned Toyota Corolla on flats
Metro PD16-1147880Abandoned Saturn SUV blocking fire hydrant
Metro PD16-1145365Abandoned motor vehicle on the right of way.
Metro PD16-1145148Abandoned motor vehicle on right of way
Metro PD16-1145018Abandoned Hyundai on right of way
Metro PD16-1144511Abandoned furniture and trash all through back yard - house is unsecure - deck in rear has holes
Metro PD18-1185872Abandoned Ford Tarus
Metro PD16-1147882Abandoned Chevy Malibu on right of way
Metro PD16-1147883Abandoned Chevy Astro Van on right of way
Metro PD17-1155347Abandoned bus on the right of way.
Metro PD18-1185327Abandoned 2008 Volvo C70
Metro PD17-1159944Abandoned / wrecked vehicle on roadway - TN Tag 1A9 9K6 - black Nissan pickup (license number may not be correct).
Metro PD17-1161070Abandoned - fire damaged blue Toyota.

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