Spring Hill, TN – Every year during the third week of September, Tennessee joins the nation in observing Child Passenger Safety Week. This is our chance to spread awareness, make sure car seats and booster seats are being used correctly, and give parents & caregivers the tools they need to protect the youngest passengers.

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be one of the leading causes of injury and death for children in Tennessee and the U.S. Many injuries occur because the restraint system is wrong for the child’s age, weight or height — or because it’s improperly installed. Proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts can significantly reduce the risk of serious harm.

Children under one year of age and weighing twenty pounds or less

Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, up to 50 pounds for some car seats, it may continue to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight and height permit. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)

Children ages one through three

Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, up to 50 pounds for some car seats, it may continue to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child’s weight and height permit. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for the specific minimum weight and height limits to use in the forward-facing mode.)

Children age four through eight

Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9″) in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.) (Note: Many car seats have higher weight and height limit that allows older children to remain in a harnessed car seat beyond 4 years of age, up to 65 pounds for many car seat models currently available. This is permissible when following the car seat manufacturers instructions. All booster seats currently approved for use in the US require a minimum weight of 40 pounds.)

Children ages nine through twelve

Children age nine (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4’9″) or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)

More information and frequently asked questions can be found here on the Tennessee Highway Safety Office website.

The SHPD does have certified child safety seat technicians available on some shifts to install or check your child’s restraint seat. Please call our dispatch center at 931-486-2632 to see if a technician is working.

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Spring Hill, TN – On August 10th at 8:15 PM officers responded to a reported shooting at 3085 Commonwealth Drive at the Grand Reserve apartments. Officers found a 17-year-old in the parking lot who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The juvenile was transported to a local emergency room, where he was later pronounced deceased. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim, mourning this unimaginable loss.

The description of the vehicle the shooter left in is a blue sedan. No suspects have been identified. Detectives are on-scene collecting physical evidence and interviewing potential witnesses.

If you have information regarding this incident, anonymous tips can be submitted here.

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Spring Hill, TN – On July 28th at approximately 1:45 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting at the Worthington Glen Apartments. Upon arrival, officers located a 21-year-old female and a 21-year-old male lying on the ground in the parking lot outside one of the apartment buildings. Both individuals had sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel administered life-saving measures at the scene. The male was airlifted to a trauma center, and the female was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. As of July 29th, both individuals remain in serious condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the male and female were acquaintances. The male allegedly forced entry into the apartment where the female was and assaulted her. He then took her phone and exited the residence. After driving through the parking lot, he returned to the area where the female was standing. The female reportedly yelled for him to return her phone. The male then parked his vehicle, exited, and allegedly assaulted her again. The confrontation escalated, resulting in the female discharging a handgun and striking the male. Shortly afterward, the male returned fire, striking the female.

No other individuals were injured during the incident. Detectives collected physical evidence and interviewed multiple witnesses at the scene. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

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Spring Hill, TN – With the 2025-2026 K-12 school year almost here, we wanted to remind the motoring public of applicable law relating to school buses. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-151 states in part, “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.”

Depending on if you are traveling on a two-lane road, multi-lane road, or divided highway will determine if you need to stop or not. On a two-lane road, everyone stops. On a four-lane highway with a center turn lane, everyone stops. If the four-lane has a divider, like a median or an unpaved area at least 5 feet wide, traffic in the opposite direction can proceed cautiously. Only traffic behind the bus must stop.

Kids getting on or off a bus are often unpredictable. They may cross the street quickly or step out from in front of the bus without warning. Drivers who ignore a bus’s stop sign put these children directly in harm’s way. It only takes one careless moment to cause a devastating accident.

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Spring Hill, Tenn. — On June 16th, Spring Hill Police Department detectives, with assistance from the Clarksville Police Department, arrested La’Taveious Lee, 18, in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Lee, a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment in connection with a June 6 shooting on Shandor Street.

According to investigators, Lee and a 17-year-old juvenile — who was arrested June 12 — exchanged gunfire following a planned drug deal that went bad. The investigation is still ongoing and more charges may be pending.

Original news release: https://shpdnews.com/2025/06/06/one-year-old-child-struck-by-gunfire-on-shandor-street/

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Update (June 12th): Today, detectives charged a 17-year-old juvenile from Columbia in connection with the shooting on Shandor Street, which injured a 22-month-old child on June 6. SHPD detectives charged the juvenile with attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm into a habitation.

The circumstances that led to the shooting are still under investigation. The decision to request a transfer hearing from juvenile court to adult court rests with the District Attorney’s Office. Detectives have worked tirelessly on this case since the incident occurred. Our thoughts remain with the child and their family. We are all hoping for a full and swift recovery.

Spring Hill, TN – SHPD officers responded to a reported shooting on Friday, June 6th at 12:55 am that occurred in the 3000 block of Shandor Street in the Harvest Pointe subdivision in southwest Spring Hill. When officers arrived, they found a round that was fired from the street into a home had struck a one-year-old child who had been sleeping inside of a home. Investigators do not believe the child was the intended target of the shooting. Paramedics transported the child to a hospital. The child was in stable condition.

Investigators believe a person was on Shandor Street when a vehicle stopped in the road next to the person. The occupants of the vehicle (described a sedan) eventually got out. For reasons that are unknown, the occupants of the vehicle and the person on the street exchanged gunfire. The people involved fired up to 15 rounds. One of those rounds hit the one-year-old child. None of the persons involved in the shooting were located during the initial investigation. Investigators are continuing to collect evidence and follow up on leads.

The SHPD is asking residents in Harvest Pointe to review their home camera footage between the hours of 12:30 am and 1:30 am looking for any vehicles or persons walking during those hours. Video footage can be sent to Detective Jonathan Tiller. If you have information related to this investigation, you can submit an anonymous tip here or contact Detective Tiller at jtiller@springhilltn.org or 931-486-2252 ext. 283.

Update (May 30) – The persons (juveniles) involved have been identified and issued juvenile petitions.

Spring Hill, TN – The SHPD is investigating graffiti spray-painted on city property in the area of Bellflower Circle in the Somerset Springs neighborhood off of Port Royal Road. This vandalism occurred sometime between May 23rd and May 26th. The two individuals pictured are persons of interest in this investigation. If you can identify these two, please submit an anonymous tip here.

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Spring Hill, TN – SHPD detectives are trying to identify the person who allegedly took a purse from a shopping cart at Publix while the victim was distracted. On March 27th the individual pictured used the victim’s credit cards at Walmart in Spring Hill and at Home Depots in Franklin/Brentwood. The suspect left in a white Honda Pilot. If you have information relating to this investigation or can identify this person, please contact Detective Gillam at sgillam@springhilltn.org or submit an anonymous tip here.

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Spring Hill, TN – On Saturday, April 12th, State and Local Law Enforcement agencies will partner with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) for “Operation Impact I-65” to reduce traffic fatalities on Interstate 65. From midnight on April 12 until 11:59 p.m., state troopers, deputies, and officers will increase traffic enforcement from the Kentucky-Tennessee state line to the Tennessee-Alabama state line. Agencies will crack down on distracted driving, speeding, seat belt use, impaired driving, and other hazardous moving violations.

In 2024, the Spring Hill Police Department investigated 145 wrecks on I-65, with 21 of those being injury crashes.

Lieutenant Michael Foster says, “By uniting the efforts of state and local law enforcement, we can create a stronger, more effective strategy to combat traffic fatalities on I-65. This partnership allows for better coordination, enhanced visibility, and a shared commitment to the safety of all travelers. Together, we will implement targeted enforcement and community education efforts to reduce wrecks and save lives.”

The THSO provides grant funding to support State and Local agencies for increased enforcement during this campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit http://www.tntrafficsafety.org.

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Spring Hill, TN – SHPD detectives are working to identify two individuals who allegedly stole merchandise (including a Bose Smart Soundbar) from Walmart on at least two occasions. The suspects left in the car pictured above. If you can identify them, contact Detective Gillam at sgillam@springhilltn.org or submit an anonymous tip here.