[citation needed] The Blue Lites were a rock and roll musical band whose members worked for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

The department is configured in a decentralized format, providing its precinct commanders with control of their own resources to address issues and crime trends in their areas.

The department is divided into eight precincts: North, South, East, West, Central, Hermitage, Madison, and Midtown Hills.

Then-Chief of Police Ronal W. Serpas stated that this step up in patrol was intended to send a message that he would not tolerate gang activity in Nashville.

[citation needed] In August 2009 Nashville appeared on Season Five Episode 11 (Hunt and Kill) of the TV Show Gangland featuring the street gang, "Brown Pride".

[7] Activists disputes that Operation Safer Streets is effective and alleges that the program has disproportionately affected black and brown neighborhoods.