Police Chief Ricky Watson awaits Spc. Andrew Wilson's arrival on Dec. 20, 2011. The hero's welcome Watson orchestrated was one of the most amazing events in the city's history.

Watson goes out a winner; trades gun for golf clubs
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Ricky Watson is a prime example of the importance of a college education. The Columbia, Tenn. native got his criminal justice degree from Memphis State University  in 1980.

Six years later – and 25 years ago -- when Brentwood Police Chief Howard Buttrey was ready to expand his force, then- City Manager Frank Clifton wanted those hires to be professional lawmen with college degrees.

In 2000 Watson became only the second Chief of Police in the city’s 41-year history.  As he prepares to retire on Friday, many would say it was Brentwood who “got lucky.”

Current City Manager Mike Walker is one. “Ricky has done a super job; he’s taken the police department to the next level,” says Walker, who joined the city and became Watson’s boss in 1990.

“Most city managers have to deal with problems in their police department and we just do not have those kinds of issues,” Walker says. He said Watson’s wisdom and street smarts have made him a very knowledgeable and proactive chief who is leaving the department in good hands and in better shape than when he took it over.   

Force grows up with the city

Watson joined the force on Oct. 1, 1986 as a captain. At the time, the city had a population of about 15,000. The department had 36 officers and a handful of civilian employees. Watson’s force today numbers 72 and protects a city of 37,000 residents. 

Watson congratulates Mary Braun on her graduation from the 15th Citizens Police Academy class in May 2010. 'Chief [Howard] Buttrey created this program to inform and educate the public,' Watson said at the graduation ceremony. 'At first, I was opposed. I thought it would be detrimental to let them see the inner workings of the department. But I was wrong.'

“I think this is the best group of men and women employed by the city ever,” he says of his staff. “They all do their job … and as a total entity, as a department, they are second to none.”

Clifton’s vision of creating a more professional law enforcement team is something Watson has worked hard to continue during his tenure, both as a captain and as chief.

In 1989, the department became the second police department in the state to earn national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. It has been reaccredited six times, most recently in 2011, and now is Tennessee’s longest-tenured accredited department.

Though he’s unassuming and low-key, the 56-year-old chief has won many accolades and engrained himself within the Brentwood community. He’s an early graduate of Leadership Brentwood, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the American Legion. In January of 2001, he was inducted into the Williamson County Fraternal Order of Police Law Enforcement Officer’s Hall of Fame.

In November, he was among a select group chosen as grand marshals in the 2011 Williamson County Veterans Parade.

“Brentwood is one of the safest communities in the country,” he says without airs. He attributes that to three things: its residential character, being a more affluent community and not having multi-family dwellings.

“We’re a proactive police department and that helps. We’re able to investigate even the smaller crimes, crimes a lot of departments don’t even try to solve,” he says.

His favorite thing about his job has been helping people, and making a difference in their life. He specifically recalled that years ago he took an active interest in the life of a young man who got into some minor trouble with the law.

“He later became a very solid citizen and was commissioned as an Army officer,” Watson says proudly.

The 1986 murder at the former Kwik Sak near I-65 on Moores Lane was solved in 1994, bringing the city's only cold case to a close.

No cold cases left to solve

Watson leaves behind an empty file folder when it comes to major crimes.

“All of the murders we’ve ever had have been solved,” he says.

Watson lists that case and the more recent Wooded Rapist one as the most satisfying cases of his career.

In April 2008, the Brentwood Police Department got the break that helped identify Robert Jason Burdick as the man now convicted of terrorizing and raping multiple women over a 14-year period in the greater Nashville area. Three of those attacks came in Brentwood, two in 1999 and another in 2004.

In December, Burdick was convicted in Williamson County Court for the Nov. 4, 2004 assault on a 46-year-old Meadowlake subdivision resident.

“It only took 50 minutes to find him guilty,” Watson says.

The most interesting case he remembers involved the 1993 murder of Betty Barnes, whose daughter-in-law kept her body on ice in the trunk of a car for weeks. While both Barnes son and daughter-in-law were charged in the case, only Mary Barnes was convicted. 

May 6, 2002 shootout etched in memory

Captain Tommy Campsey recalls that day as though it was yesterday.

With his back to the camera, Chief Watson holds a press conference in the middle of the Franklin Road and Old Hickory Boulevard intersection on May 2, 2002 after a shootout left two of his officers wounded, one seriously.

As head of the Criminal Investigations Department, “It was technically my scene, my responsibility,” Campsey says. But a report of a possible second suspect meant officers had to seal the busy area in the city’s commercial center in addition to attending to the injured officers and gathering evidence.

“He was a leader; he completely took charge of that scene that day. He knew the importance of taking care of his people.  That was a significant event for the officers’ involved and a defining moment for him as a leader.”

Assistant Police Chief Jeff Hughes, who has been tapped to succeed Watson, agrees.

“The chief’s always been a very hands-on person,” Hughes shares. “It’s not that he’s telling you what to do, but he’s hands-on by being involved.

“He trusts his staff to do their jobs, and he empowers them to do them.”

Hughes describes Watson as a caring and compassionate person who leaves quite a legacy. “He is a man of character and integrity, compassion, and has a deep respect for service, whether it be to police work or servicemen abroad.

Police Chief Ricky Watson, center, celebrates his department's victory over the Brentwood Fire & Rescue  team in last year's benefit softball game. He's joined by Fire Chief Brian Goss, left, and Asst. Police Chief Jeff Hughes.

“He has taken professionalism to a new level in his tenure,” Hughes says, citing three specific examples:

1. That the department has maintained its national accreditation.

2. That he fought for increases in his officers’ pay and benefits

3. He spearheaded an effort to  provide “bridge” funds through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System for officers taking mandatory retirement before reaching eligibility for Social Security and Medicare.  

Hughes notes that some have called Watson a man of little tack. “You always know where you stand with him,” he explains. “He is always honest and straightforward.”

Watson has a dry sense of humor and for years has loved to ridicule the Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department as being No. 2 when it comes to public safety. “He never misses an opportunity to get a zing in,” Hughes says.

One of those opportunities came last summer when Watson coached his officers to victory in a benefit softball team between the two departments. Though he talked smack on the field, reiterating his oft-quoted line that had the firefighters scored five points higher on their exam they could have been police officers, he was gracious about the cause.

“What a great job by all of them,” he said that day of the participants and the effort to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “…The event was a great team-building event for the city’s police and fire departments as well. It was a great day.”

Support of soldiers his biggest legacy

To the public, Watson’s greatest and most visible legacy may be his efforts in regard to members of the armed forces, especially those of the 327^th Infantry regiment of the 101^st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell.

“He has led by example that you should serve above self,” Hughes says.

In late November 2010, Watson started and led the grassroots effort to remodel and rehab Ben Maenza’s Brentwood home so that the young Marine who had lost both legs to an IED blast in Iraq could return home for the Christmas holidays. But even that effort paled in comparison to the one experienced this past December when Watson again stepped forward to help a returning Wounded Warrior come home.

On Dec. 17, 2010, Chief Ricky Watson explains to Pfc Ben Maenza the work still to be completed at his parents' home .

Looking forward to hitting the greens

An avid golfer with a 14 handicap, Watson is already dreaming of new courses to conquer in his retirement. He’s already played St. Andrews and Belfry in Scotland but declares that the three Brentwood courses – Brentwood Country Club, Nashville Golf Club and Governors Club – are among his favorites.

Other retirement pursuits will probably include a little hunting and fishing and lots of travel. Already he and his wife Lisa are planning a road trip that will start in St. Louis. “We’ll head west and see where we end up,” he said. But don’t imagine them in an RV or camping out.

“If I’m going to rough it, a Courtyard by Marriott is about as rough as I’m going to go,” he says.

He doesn’t plan to be idle too long, however. Watson on several occasions has said he is open to going back to work but emphatic that whatever his new career is, it won’t involve law enforcement.

Going back to work may be something Lisa encourages. “She’s way concerned,” he said, about him hanging around the house.

Watson has no doubt he’s leaving the department in good hands. Hughes will officially assume the top job on Monday. Capt. Tommy Walsh – one of the two officers wounded on that fateful day in May 2002 -- will become the new assistant chief. (Click here for related story on department promotions)

“I’m sure there will be new ideas that will be innovative as well. It will be a very smooth transition,” Watson promises.

Of Hughes, Watson said the new chief has paid his dues and has all of the skill, experience and education needed to perform the role. The department is full of competent, caring individuals who will move forward and expand the department,” he says.

 “I’ve had a good career, and I’m proud of what I’ve done. But it’s time to go,” he said.

A Watson will still be serving his community, however. The Watsons’ son John, 26, a Brentwood High School graduate, is now a police officer with Murfreesboro Police Department. A lieutenant in the Army National Guard, John served in Iraq with his guard unit, returning home in 2010. 

A private retirement celebration is planned this afternoon in the chief's honor.

A scene from Watson's lead car in the hero's welcome Dec. 20, 2011 for Spc. Andrew Wilson. Thousands lined Franklin, Concord and Sunset roads to greet the injured soldier.