NewsChannel 9 reported a significant drop in Chattanooga’s homicides and shootings in 2025, with criminal homicides down 48 percent and non-fatal shootings down 26 percent compared to the prior year. UTC criminal justice expert Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt explained that while data should be interpreted cautiously, the decline is striking and likely tied to intelligence-led, data-driven,…
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt talks about active violence and UTC’s VRI on Jed & JR Mornings
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt, head of UTC’s Department of Criminal Justice and founder of UTC’s Violence Reduction Initiative, joined Jed & JR Mornings on Talk Radio 102.3 FM to discuss school shootings, active-violence preparedness, and how these topics can be addressed responsibly in educational settings. The conversation centered on the ongoing Texas trial stemming from the…
Members of public file nearly 300 complaints against Chattanooga Police, Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies
Rick Dierenfeldt, Ph.D., is a U.C. Foundation Professor and Head of the Department of Criminal Justice at UTC. Since 2024, he has also served as the Director of the UTC Violence Reduction Initiative, a research center dedicated to the study and reduction of violent crime through community-based partnerships with criminal justice agencies, service providers, and…
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt on Jed & JR Mornings talking about FBI staffing
Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt, U.C. Foundation Professor and Head of UTC’s Department of Criminal Justice, joined WGOW 102.3 FM’s Jed and JR Mornings to discuss the FBI’s decision to lower employment requirements and training time. He explained current standards and noted that the change aims to address potential staffing gaps caused by expected retirements and severance…
Dr. Liz Hathaway, Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt and Tim Gritten on Jed & JR Mornings on the first day of class
On UTC’s first day of classes, WGOW 102.3’s Jed & JR hosted a live “Mornings” broadcast outside the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library. During this segment, Dr. Liz Hathaway, a member of the Health & Human Performance faculty, discussed her student‑centered teaching. Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt highlighted UTC’s Violence Reduction Initiative, noting its role in significant reductions…