HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Houston Hackett can see the difference he's made as a police officer in Hendersonville.
"I can show up to my job every day and feel like I am making a difference," said Hackett. "We love to be seen; the citizens love to see us out there, and that is hard to get nowadays."
It's a job fewer and fewer people want to do, but Mayor Clary said the preventative police work their officers do has had an impact.
"One of the things we have seen recently is our sales tax is going up, specifically from people outside of Hendersonville to shop here, and they are doing that because they feel safe," said Clary. "We want to hire the cream of the crop. The problem is the crop of people going into police work and staying in police work has thinned out a lot."
When officers leave, usually there's a reason.
"When they look around and they see better pay," said Clary.
As of Tuesday, that's changed.
"For our master patrol officers, for our sergeants, for our corporals, they are going to see a 10 percent increase in their pay in the next two weeks," said Clary.
The next testing date will be on March 31st. To find out more information about how to apply, contact the Hendersonville Police Department.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at ( Kim.Rafferty@newschannel5.com).
Here’s a beautiful story of how one mother turned her grief journey into a gathering of gratitude… and organ donation awareness.
Robb Coles highlights a special event organized by Cari Hollis – whose 26-year old son Austin died two years ago. Austin agreed to be an organ donor – and that single gesture saved multiple lives.
Cari reached out to as many recipients she could find – several of whom traveled to Nashville for an emotional celebration in Austin’s honor. One woman – whose life was saved by receiving Austin’s lungs – put it simply: “He’s my angel”.
- Rhori Johnston
