MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — In Murfreesboro, technology has been used across the city to combat crime. According to recent data, it’s contributed to the success of the department.
“We’re an extremely fast-growing city,” Murfreesboro Police Department’s deputy chief Cary Gensemer said. “Murfreesboro is a great community. The people that live in Murfreesboro are awesome partners for us.”
It’s no secret that the community has constantly evolved. With more people and more growth, the possibility of more crime rises. Lately, the Murfreesboro Police Department has found a way to keep up with evolving crime.
“That technology relieves some of the pressure on traditional policing methods of actually having to have the police officers out there,” Gensemer added. “This technology doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t have to have a break. It doesn’t have to go home and go to sleep. It’s always working and it’s really helping us to increase our efficiency.”
Within a year, the department has been able to cut crime down across the board by nearly 20%. Murfreesboro police provided News 2 with a detailed breakdown of improvements by crime:
- Homicide: Down 55%
- Rape: Down 18%
- Robbery: Down 19%
- Aggravated Assault: Down 7%
- Burglary: Down 13%
- Larceny/Theft: Down 18%
- Motor Vehicle Theft: Down 17%
- Arson: Down 25%
Larceny theft includes offenses like pocket-picking, purse snatching, theft from buildings, theft from motor vehicles, and all other larceny. The total does not include shoplifting crimes.
“Traffic crashes are down. There is a 10 percent reduction in injury crashes during 2024, which I don’t remember that happening for a long time,” Gensemer said. “Especially with the growth that Murfreesboro has experienced.”
Gensemer pointed to tools like The Real Crime Center, explaining that the department has been able to use gunshot detection devices, license plate recognition technology and public safety cameras.
“That is one of the more amazing accomplishments that the police department has made in the past year, it’s just been, it’s really neat to see how that is helping with our efficiency as a law enforcement agency so we want to continue to develop and improve upon that department,” Gensemer explained.
The decrease in crime data has left the department optimistic about this year. However, law enforcement officers are focused on being able to continue the trend.
