FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — One of Franklin Police Chief Deborah Faulkner’s first memories involves law enforcement.
“One night my dad was working the night shift and it was just my mother and I, and I was 4-years-old and we had a prowler and he tried to break into our home,” said Chief Faulkner.
Her mom called Nashville Police and officers got there right away.
“The biggest memory was how they made me feel. Even as a child, they made me feel safe and protected and thankful that they were there when we needed them the most,” said Chief Faulkner.
She had no idea that decades later she would join those officers she remembers as some of the biggest and strongest men she had ever seen.
Faulkner was breaking a barrier, signing up to be one of the first three women in the Metro Nashville Police Department
“My mother and dad never taught me that there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. So imagine my surprise when I did get into law enforcement and realize what a minority I was at that time,” said Chief Faulkner.
She quickly traded in the women’s standard issue pumps, ascot and pillbox hat for more practical pants and combat boots, and over the years she moved up the ranks from patrol to administration.
As one of the only women she was also utilized in decoy missions.
“I worked with some great guys and we had each other's backs,” said Chief Faulkner.
She was instrumental in starting the citizen’s police academy in Nashville, a program that was duplicated in Franklin. That duplication may have been a sign of fate years later as Faulkner became Franklin’s first female chief after retiring from Metro.
“I love the men and women here, I love the people who live here. It was just a natural fit and I’m deeply honored to have this position,” said Chief Faulkner.
It’s that love for her officers that lead Chief Faulkner to receive two "Patriotic Employer Awards" from the Department of Defense. She was nominated by two different officers.
Franklin PD has 41 active or retired military service members.
“When some of our officers are deployed, and we do have them go away for eight, nine, 10 months overseas, we want to support them and their families. So we will always have a Blue Star Flag outside of our building until they return. We try to check in with their families to see if there’s anything they need,” said Chief Faulkner.
Employing veterans is a top priority for Chief Faulkner, and since she first got to the Franklin Police Department she’s grown the force to 132 officers.
She’s also worked to update their equipment.
Every officer has new state of the art Bluetooth body camera that automatically records from multiple angles, and Faulkner has led the charge to improve training and response efforts for the increasing number of mental health calls.
She’s also created peer support programs and officer wellness is also a priority.
“I want them to make sure they go home at night to their families and that they love what they do,” said Faulkner.
From Faulkner’s pioneering day’s on patrol to the chief’s desk, she’s had a front row seat to big changes for women in law enforcement.
“I don’t think the public, or certainly the men and women who join the ranks of the Franklin Police Department, they don’t think a thought about having a female chief or partner or training officer. It’s just not an issue in face they expect it,” said Chief Faulkner.
Faulkner believes law enforcement is all about making a difference in the community, and she also serves on a number of non-profit boards working to find solutions to the problems that lead to crime.
