National and statewide organizations are prompting the Memphis Police Department (MPD) to be transparent and accountable on documented practices.
Stand for Children Tennessee (Stand TN) joins the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other agencies across the nation to launch the Seven States Safety Campaign. Stand TN is leading the charge in Memphis, as the ACLU has submitted a public records request to MPD regarding “misconduct and civil rights violations.”
“As the federal government pulls back on police oversight, local communities are stepping up and calling for transparency and real reform,” the organizations said in a statement.
The ACLU submitted a request to MPD’s records office today asking for copies of records “concerning MPD’s use of force and stops.” They cited 50 separate incidents closest to April 30th regarding “uses of force by any specialized unit.”
Other requests included Blue Team incident and weapon reports, field investigation memos, and reports on juveniles injured by officer force.
Should the MPD deny any of these requests, they are required by Tennessee law to provide written notice as to why they declined to provide their response within seven business days.
This news comes as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the closure of its investigation of MPD. In December, the agency found that MPD uses excessive force; conducts unlawful stops, searches, and arrests; unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law; and unlawfully discriminated in their response to people with behavioral disabilities.
At the time the investigation opened, former President Joe Biden controlled the DOJ. Today, the department announced they would be retracting “the Biden Administration’s findings of constitutional violations on the part of” the MPD and other police departments.
The campaign is demanding that similar changes be filed in Massachusetts, New York, Mississippi, and more, where similar federal civil rights investigations had been reported.
A statement from Stand TN condemned the local government for not taking “meaningful action” in the aftermath of the DOJ’s findings. The group also criticized Mayor Paul Young’s “integrity” regarding the city’s policing task force citing lack of clarity, transparency, and community accountability.
Several organizations urged Young to enter a consent decree with the DOJ after the findings were released. Organizations such as the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH), and Just City suggested “independent monitoring,” despite the mayor’s concern for the financial risks a consent decree would impose.
“The DOJ’s findings confirmed what Memphis communities have said for years: MPD’s abuse, excessive force, and lack of accountability are systemic, not isolated,” Cardell Orrin, executive director of Stand TN, said. “While city leaders chase an arbitrary ‘magic number’ of police, they’ve failed to invest in what truly keeps us safe: youth programs, mental healthcare, housing, transit, and more. This request for records will give us and other partners more power to push for the bold changes Memphis needs.”
