Attacks on Nashville Police Lead to New Measures

Metro police are setting up mobile video cameras and beefing up patrols in an East Nashville public housing development after two officers were attacked and seriously injured in less than a 24-hour period while trying to help residents in the low-income neighborhood.

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April 14, 2016

Attacks on Nashville Police Lead to New Measures

Metro Nashville (TN) PD Officer Matthew Cammarn was attacked Tuesday. (Photo: Metro Nashville PD)

Topics:Assaults on Officers Tennessee agencies the south Tennessee policies & procedures Video Surveillance Patrol Investigations

Metro police are setting up mobile video cameras and beefing up patrols in an East Nashville public housing development after two officers were attacked and seriously injured in less than a 24-hour period while trying to help residents in the low-income neighborhood, the department's top police official said Wednesday.

"I want to be clear that Officer Josh Hausman on Monday night and Officer Matthew Cammarn last night had come to that neighborhood to protect citizens from harm and were themselves attacked," Nashville police Chief Steve Anderson said, referencing James Cayce's crime-laden community on South Seventh Street. "Attacks on police officers are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by this city. Thankfully, Officers Hausman and Cammarn are going to be OK."

Cammarn, an East Precinct police officer, was attacked about 6 p.m. Tuesday as he attempted to arrest a man whom the officer saw assault a woman in the neighborhood that consists of 716 families and 1,900 residents. He was released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center after treatment for a concussion and will remain on medical leave for several days, reports the Tennessean .

Hausman, a Central Precinct police officer who was stabbed in the right hand around 9 p.m. Monday while trying to break up a fight between two women over men, also remained on medical leave Wednesday. Police spokesman Don Aaron said Hausman, a three-year department veteran, may be out on medical leave for some time because he had to get stitches for his wound.

Anderson said the department has asked local members of the faith-based community to establish a presence in the area to reduce tensions and work toward a non-violent resolution to disputes.

In addition, he said, over the next several days additional officers and a task force will be assigned to the neighborhood.

The department also planned to install mobile camera systems in the area Wednesday, Anderson said, with one deployed to the specific area where the officers were assaulted.

Officers will also patrol the area in pairs in an effort to not only increase their safety, but also the community's, Anderson said.