Why Mt. Juliet police officers go sledding on the job

By Andy Humbles, Tennessean
Original article HERE

Mt. Juliet police officers caught on camera sledding during work hours are actually demonstrating an important part of the job, as the department considers winter weather an opportunity to interact with residents.

A Facebook live video taken by Mt. Juliet police Capt. Tyler Chandler of Cpls. James Christensen and Jennings Taylor challenging a local youth to a sled competition Tuesday has been especially popular.

The video drew 11,800 original views and has picked up steam as media outlets have shown it.

The sled race wasn’t planned, but fits into the department’s philosophy to engage with the Mt. Juliet community in many forms.

“I call it positive engagement,” Chandler said. “Police are involved in many negative type situations. But there is also positive engagement a police officer can do that has nothing to do with enforcement … like changing a flat (tire), giving directions, interacting with a child at a restaurant, passing out Halloween candy — that helps overshadow the negative engagement out there.”

Mt. Juliet police had been doing a number of Facebook live videos to update residents on road conditions because of the snow in recent days when they came up on a popular sledding hill at Grace United Methodist Church on North Mt. Juliet Road.

Christensen and Taylor wanted to join in, and they came upon a family with a youth willing to take on the officers with Chandler filming. Chandler also used the video to go over sled safety.

“People ask all the time, ‘why do you share funny stuff, goofy stuff?’ It helps build engagement and a following on social media,” which helps get the word out on serious alerts, Chandler said.

The department also posted on social media Tuesday about Mt. Juliet police Sgt. Scott Fulton buying winter clothing for two children he came across who were inadequately dressed for the cold temperatures.

Each month, the Mt. Juliet Police Department holds a Coffee with a Cop, where residents can interact with police officials including Chief James Hambrick. The next Coffee with a Cop is scheduled at 7-9 a.m., Friday at the General Store, 563 Main Street, Mt. Juliet.