CAPTAIN LIANE WILSON

Clarksville Police Department’s Captain Liane Wilson has made history more than once during her career which now spans more than twenty years. Prior to joining CPD, Wilson was working in the community with residents of public housing. It was there she became aware of a pervasive mistrust among citizens towards local police officers. Having earned their trust as Resident Services Coordinator she felt she could do much more and joined CPD to serve the very community she had worked with.

When asked what her favorite thing about Clarksville is, Liane states “I love Clarksvilles diversity. Clarksville-Montgomery County has APSU, which is home to students from around the world. Our neighbor, Fort Campbell brings soldiers of every race, creed, color and ethnicity here to serve together. At a time when there is so much racial tension in the world, it’s a blessing to see our community stand together as one.”

“Working in a predominately male profession can make it difficult for women to succeed. Sometimes a woman’s success is downplayed as something she achieved because of her gender and not something she truly earned,” says Liane. The first five years were spent as a patrol officer learning every aspect of the job, then tested to become, and was promoted to, Detective. “I worked five years in the Special Operations Unit as a Major Crimes Detective. Again, learning every aspect of the position. Next, I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and spent five years working first in patrol then with the Domestic Violence and the Child Sexual Abuse unit.” “On June 16, 2013, with fifteen years of experience I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, becoming CPD’s first female in this position. On August 30, 2018, I achieved what I feel to be, professionally, my greatest accomplishment yet. I became CPD’s first and only female Captain and for that I am greatly honored. I chose this career path and was purposeful in my planning to accomplish each goal in a timely manner. I worked hard, earning my way up through the ranks in a way that would ensure others would respect each position I held.”

“My greatest personal accomplishment was when I donated a kidney to a childhood friend, Julie Hatcher-Gill. She moved away when I was nine and we hadn’t talked in thirty-three years. Her father, my pastor, was transferred to a church in Nashville. Years later, I saw her social media posts and began following her story. In January 2019, I reached out and learned how to determine if I were a match. After doing my own research and once I was confident in my decision, I contacted the coordinator and the process began. It was meant to be because we were a match. Her numbers improved temporarily, but on September 19, 2019 I was able to donate a kidney. There is no greater honor than to be able to help a friend in a time of significant need.”