The Memphis Police Department (MPD) did not address concerns surrounding the No Kings Protest during a meeting of the Memphis City Council’s Public committee meeting, despite requests from council members.
Council member Jerri Green requested MPD Chief C.J. Davis appear in front of the council to answer No Kings Day protester demands during the regular meeting of the council on April 14th. Green asked council member Ford Canale, Chairman of the council’s Public Safety and Homeland Security committee, to place Davis on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.
This request was made after community groups and advocates sent a letter in the wake of the incident demanding the release of body-worn camera footage, public identification of every officer present, and more after they said MPD “escalated to violence” during the protest on March 28th.
Community members noticed Davis was slated to “address constituent concerns regarding public safety” during Tuesday’s committee meeting, however this item was removed from the council’s agenda. A discussion on the release of body camera footage was also removed.
Davis appeared in front of the council to provide a monthly crime update, but did not go into detail about the protest.
Green said she did not know who removed the agenda item or when it was removed, but said it was done without her consent. She said that she and other council members are unable to provide answers for community members because the item can’t “stay on the agenda.”
“I’m disappointed that those items were removed from the committee agenda,” Green said. “We need much more transparency on this issue. I would at least like to have our city attorney address it if [Davis] is not legally able to and not have it done in a closed-door session on executive session.”
Green said she understood litigation was forthcoming, and brought up involving the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as an independent investigator in the matter.
Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen Washington brought up accessibility concerns for citizens looking to access body camera footage. Assistant Chief of Police Services Martin Kula said the policy is available on the department’s website.
Kula said all requests to view footage are directed to the department’s public information office and must be approved by the chief of police before being released. If the footage is used as evidence it is not considered public record.