The Hopkinsville Police Department hosted its first Chats with Chief on Facebook and Police Chief Jason Newby answered questions from the community about safety concerns, department improvements and staffing on Monday.
Newby was selected to serve as the chief of the department in 2023 and has served in law enforcement for 27 years.
Regarding safety concerns, Newby shared that officers have responded to many incidents involving minors having guns. In order to combat that issue, Newby says the department’s Crime Suppression Unit focuses on short term investigations and works toward reducing the amount of illegally obtained firearms and narcotics in the community in order to prevent crime.
Then the Special Investigative Unit focuses on long term investigations that pushes for federal charges when it comes to gun-related crimes.
By improving their crime prevention measures, Newby says they have seen a decrease in homicide rates. Before becoming chief, Newby says there were years where homicide numbers reached double digits, and so far in 2025 no homicides have occurred in Hopkinsville.
During Newby’s tenure, the department has become fully staffed, but now that the Christian County Public School System is establishing its own police force, so some department officers will be leaving to be school resource officers
Newby says they are preparing to have officer applicants ready to fill those spots.
Monday’s Chats with Chief is available on the Hopkinsville Police Department’s Facebook page.