Women in Business Luncheon: Leadership at Any Level June

A dynamic community of 42 square miles and 71,000 residents, Franklin, located in the heart of Williamson County, has earned a national reputation as a safe and vibrant community. 

The Franklin Police Department, the ninth largest in the State, continues to maintain one of the lowest crime rates per capita in Tennessee. As the City continues to grow, we are constantly seeking new ways to exceed the needs and expectations of our residents.                                           

Chief Deborah Faulkner leads the 143 men and women who make up the Franklin Police Department. These dedicated officers and civilian staff serve our customers with a professional, progressive, and responsive approach to modern-day policing.

Prior to joining the Franklin Police Department in 2014, Chief Faulkner was Tennessee’s first Inspector General. A retired Metropolitan Nashville Police Officer, with more than 30 years of service to Nashville, Faulkner came up through the ranks, serving in Metro’s Patrol Division and various other assignments before retiring from the MNPD at the rank of Deputy Chief. She has her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis; her master’s in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University; and, her doctorate in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University.

Chief Faulkner is a board member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP). She is a graduate of Leadership Franklin, Leadership Nashville, and Leadership Middle Tennessee. Chief Faulkner is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and past president of the Tennessee Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Trevecca University, Cumberland University, and Tennessee State University where she has taught classes in Sociology, Criminal Deviancy, and the Management of Law Enforcement Agencies.

With community service as a top priority, Chief Faulkner is a former Board Chair for the Fifty Forward Board, YWCA, and the Susan G. Komen Nashville Affiliate. She has also served on the boards of the Girl Scouts, Goodwill, Catholic Charities, CABLE, and Building Lives of Vets. She currently serves on the board for Leadership Franklin. 

Chief Faulkner is a recipient of the Athena Award, and was also inducted into the Academy for Women of Achievement.  She received the Girl Scout’s Volunteer Award, CABLE’s Spirit of Leadership Award, the Molly Todd Cup, and the Fifty Forward Harriet Foley Leadership Award.

The Franklin Police Department is Internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and offers excellent opportunities to anyone seeking a career in law enforcement including: patrol (by car, motorcycle, bicycle, and Segway), traffic investigations, criminal investigations, advanced crime scene processing, SWAT, crisis negotiations, honor guard, training, public affairs, professional standards, and more.

Franklin's Mayor, Dr. Ken Moore, the City’s Aldermen, and City Administrator Eric Stuckey have made public safety a top priority, and the Franklin Police Department stands ready to serve our citizens with excellence. 

Donna Thorpe
Administrative Assistant
(615) 791-3246, donna.thorpe@franklintn.gov