PODCAST: From Rapid DNA to Self-Driving Cars: How Murfreesboro Police are Battling the Future of Crime Today!

Jul 16, 2026 at 11:07 am



PODCAST ABOVE: In this informative and forward-thinking episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker is joined in studio by Murfreesboro Police Captain Clayton Williams, Chief Michael Bowen, and Public Information Director Larry Flowers. The dialogue takes a road down the modern landscape of law enforcement, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies like license plate readers, gun shot detection systems, and the department's participation in a pioneering rapid DNA testing program. The guests explain how these high-tech tools act as critical pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle, accelerating investigation times, connecting related crimes, and generating high-definition leads—all while still requiring the rigorous, traditional legwork of dedicated detectives behind the scenes.

Also during the show, we talked about future innovations and community safety. WGNS and guests also engage in a discussion about the potential of "drone as a first responder" programs, exploring how aerial technology can arrive at a crime scene even before officers to provide real-time situational awareness. The panel also addresses several texted-in questions from the community, ranging from the possibility of utilizing weaponized drones (which the department has not discussed and is not on their radar) to how law enforcement might eventually regulate and stop unmanned, autonomous vehicles—like the self-driving rideshares currently operating in nearby Nashville.

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