Construction finally underway on much-anticipated Antioch Police Precinct
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Construction is well underway on the long-awaited Antioch Police Precinct.
The new precinct will be the Metro Nashville Police Department’s (MNPD) ninth. The former councilwoman who led the charge for this precinct told News 2 on Wednesday it’s about time.
“I would be remiss if I did not say it should not have taken five mayors (to happen) for a community that’s one of the fastest growing in the city,” said Tanaka Vercher, former District 28 councilwoman.
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Even with construction finally in progress, Vercher said she won’t believe the precinct is being built until it’s open.
“When I was on council, it was supposed to have happened two years ago,” Vercher said with a laugh.
“You have to see it to believe it?” asked News 2’s Sam Chimenti.
“I have to see it!” Vercher exclaimed.
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Vercher said crime itself was never her motive for adding a precinct to Antioch. Instead, it was the community’s continued growth.
“Any time you concentrate more people, you make an area more dense. The numbers are going to be what the numbers are going to be. If you have more people, we know there’s a correlation that you’re going to have more crime. So it wasn’t out of just saying ‘the area is unsafe,’ it was really out of necessity…you have more people, you need more resources,” Vercher said.
The MNPD told News 2 they’ve already begun hiring staff for the future Antioch Precinct, which should be complete by mid-2025. It will be located just under five miles from Metro’s South Precinct.
The MNPD will need 93 officers to fully-staff the department, according to officials.
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“It means a lot,” said Vercher. “A lot of people, they’ve forgotten about this project, but it really means a lot to our area and the sustainability of it.”
After Antioch’s precinct is officially opened, future neighborhoods that could see a precinct added include Bellevue and Joelton. Both are included in Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s capital budget that’s up for vote this week.
That doesn’t mean these projects are on the verge of breaking ground, but those communities have also been vocal on the need for further police presence.
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