Trick-or-treat 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, the Mt. Juliet Police Department recommends. Officers will hand out candy and LED safety lights to children.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department will put four times its usual patrol staffing on the streets Saturday, Oct. 31, for Halloween night. The department announced the plan Monday in a release on its news site.

It also recommends that trick-or-treating take place between 5 and 9 p.m. The city sets no official hours, so this is the nearest thing Mount Juliet has to a set time this year.

What officers will do

  • Patrol neighborhoods at four times normal staffing.
  • Hand out candy and LED safety lights to trick-or-treaters, so children stay visible to drivers after dark.
  • Watch for unsafe driving, illegal activity and other behavior that could put children at risk.
  • Monitor parking in neighborhoods.

The department said pedestrian safety is its greatest concern. It cited Safe Kids Worldwide, which says children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

“We want everyone to have a great night, and our officers will be out strong to help make that happen,” Police Chief Tyler Chandler said. “But keeping children safe takes all of us. Please slow down, watch for children and look out for one another.”

In recent years the department has tripled patrol staffing on Halloween night, according to its 2023 Halloween patrol plan. This year’s plan goes further.

The department’s advice

For parents and children:

  • Make costumes visible at night with reflective material, flashlights or other lights.
  • Cross streets at intersections.
  • Do not walk out between parked vehicles.
  • Watch for approaching traffic.
  • Talk with children about riding electric scooters and e-bikes safely and within traffic laws.

For drivers and visitors:

  • Take extra care in residential neighborhoods; children can be unpredictable when excited or distracted by costumes and decorations.
  • Park so you do not block roadways, driveways or access for emergency vehicles.
  • Report reckless driving, dangerous behavior or suspicious activity right away.

What it means for you

  • Trick-or-treat: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, is the department’s recommended window.
  • Expect police in your neighborhood, and officers handing out candy and lights.
  • Report problems: MJPD non-emergency, 615-754-2550; emergencies, 911.
  • Clocks go back an hour early Sunday, Nov. 1, when daylight saving time ends.

Trunk-or-treats, the weekend’s other events and the full safety list are on our trick-or-treat hours page and Halloween events page. For more this week, see things to do.