SLAYINGS PROMPT MT. JULIET TO CONSIDER MORE DETECTIVES

In the wake of drug-related homicide cases that have rocked the community
over the past month, the Mt. Juliet Police Department is taking steps to
increase its detective division.

This week the City Commission approved on first reading $75,000 for two new
detective positions by a 5-0 vote. Second reading for the resolution is
scheduled for Oct. 28.

"It's a response to what has happened the last few years," Commissioner Ray
Justice said. "The unfortunate part is, the events of the last few months
say we have a problem."

If the resolution passes second reading, one detective would be added to
the Criminal Investigations Division and one to the Special Operations
Division, Police Chief Kenneth Martin said.

Mt. Juliet now has three detectives in each division.

After the shooting death of Michael Bochette, 20, a former Mt. Juliet High
football player who was a student at Cumberland University, Mt. Juliet
Mayor Kevin Mack announced that the city was "declaring war on drugs."

"But we had already seen things trending that way," Mack said this week.
"We were finding out we were having more of a drug problem in Mt. Juliet
than anyone ever thought.

"The three murders - the pregnant woman and child, and then Bochette Junior
- - drove home we have a problem."