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History of the MPD
following is an encapsulated
of the Memphis Police Department.
HERE for a more in-depth history of the
Memphis Police Department or click on the link
below to learn about the History of Women in the MPD:
History of Women in the MPD
In 1827, John J. Balch was appointed
town constable. This was the birth of the Memphis Police Department.
Several years later, a town watch was created with two men
paid $400 a year to work the night watch.
The first police station was constructed. It was a
12' by 20' brick calaboose located at Main and Market, at a cost of
$185. Rattles were purchased for the night watch. Yes,
the first Memphis Police Officers carried big rattles which could be
used as clubs.
The Department grew rapidly, totaling twenty-one
The City of Memphis was divided into districts and patrolmen
were sent out in pairs.
The Town Marshal was given the title of Chief of
After the end of the Civil War, a new, more
efficient police force was organized on the basis of Wards instead
of Districts. The Department increased in size by nearly 100 men.
The first black men to serve with the Memphis
police were a
part of the Metropolitan force. William Cook and John F. Harris
were hired on November 18, 1867, and served for about two
years as turnkeys at the two district station houses.
The decade of the 1870s was shaped by a deadly
a disease called “Yellow Jack.” Yellow fever struck Memphis
in 1873 and again in 1878 and 1879. The police force was
honored by the city council in 1873 for “remaining on duty”
during the epidemic when most well bodied individuals fled
Memphis. This was one of the noblest and proudest moments of
the Memphis Police Department. Of the 55-man force, 50 were
stricken with the fever, and 10 died.
The department hired another black officer in
Rufus H. McCain. The experience with Policeman McCain
was so satisfactory that when white officers were lost to the
disease, the number of black policemen were increased to
a level proportionate with the black population of the city.
Fourteen other black officers were added to the force in August
1878. Most of these men stayed with the department for
less than a year, but Townsend D. Jackson, Burrell Randolph,
Moses Plummer, Howard Chastaine, and Dallas Lee all served
as policemen over ten years.
The first patrol wagon was purchased and was
dubbed the "Black Maria."
In the early 1900's, the
Department began working with 8-hour shifts.
The first motor vehicle were purchased- one an ambulance,
the other a patrol car. Barksdale Substation became
The emergency car was
introduced, which consisted of 6 officers working 2 per
shift responding to emergency calls. Police
radios were installed in 12 police vehicles.
In 1932, Memphis received
international notoriety when it was named "The Murder
Capital of the World." There were 102 homicides that year.
George "Machine Gun" Kelly
was captured by Memphis Police Officers.
The Police Academy was opened
by Lt. Bill Raney, after his graduation from the FBI
National Academy in 1937.
The first riot squad was
formed, consisting of 30 men who were trained in tear gas,
rifles, and submachine guns.
Police Officers gained civil
In the 1940s, the Department had 471
total personnel, 83 automobiles, 22 motorcycles, and 3
patrol wagons. The work week was reduced from 48
hours to 40 hours. The last horses from the horse patrol
were sold and Barksdale station was closed.
Armour Training Center was opened. The year is
In the early 60's, the Emergency Squad was
formed which contained 15 experienced and specially trained
officers and the present Dog Squad was formed.
Dr. Martin Luther King was killed in Memphis
in 1968, causing riots and curfews.
The first law enforcement planning agency was
created by Detective Carl A. Goolsby.
In 1973, the department witnessed the
formation of two police unions. The Afro-American Police
Association was formed and the Memphis Police Association, a
bargaining unit representing patrolmen and sergeants, was
In the summer of 1978 Memphis Police went on
strike for eight days.
The West Precinct opens at 247 Washington becoming the MPD's
The Tact Unit rescued 3
doctors and one nurse held hostage during a 32 hour siege at
St. Jude Research Hospital in 1982.
Also in 1982 the Hostage Negotiating Team was formed.
In 1982 the West Precinct
moved from 247 Washington to its current location of 1925
Hostage situation on Shannon
Street resulted in eight deaths, including the police
officer taken hostage. The year for that bloody assault was
In early 1984 the
implementation of the Police Service Technician Program
designed for the hiring of future commissioned police
Specialized Patrol, a pilot
program, was instituted to attack the problem of criminal
activity using innovative techniques and tactics. Twenty
officers and 2 lieutenants were divided into two eleven man
teams to target specific crimes in the city.
Operation Involvement became
fully operational in 1986, successfully implementing a
program of developing mutual respect, cooperation, and
understanding between the Memphis Police Department and the
citizens of Memphis.
Specialized Patrol made into
a permanent unit. Formal institution of the career
The Department started
operating four shifts to reduce response time during peak hours. The Delta
Shift was implemented.
The Neighborhood Watch
Program was introduced within the Precincts. The first
Police Open House was held.
Beale Street Substation
Museum was opened.
In 1988, the First Black
Director was appointed, James E. Ivy.
Central Precinct was opened,
sharing space in the East Precinct until a permanent
facility could be located.
The state-of-the-art John D.
Holt Training Academy opened.
The Police Memorial Committee
was formed and the first Police Memorial Service held.
The Crisis Intervention Team
was formed to respond to calls for assistance involving the
Mendez Training Program
implemented in Memphis City Schools, grades K-12. Peer
Counselor Program started to provide a confidential source
of support for fellow officers.
90's began the Family Trouble Center was opened at 620
S. Lauderdale, designed to attack the root causes of
Cordova is annexed into
the city and police services are provided.
First Recruit Class is
trained with the 9 MM pistol.
The Emergency Vehicle
Operation Course began operation at the Training
In 1991, the TV show
COPS was filmed in Memphis and the World Police and
Fire Games were held.
Eddie B. Adair was named
first black Chief of Police in 1992.
Computerization of the
Memphis Police Department begins in the Robbery Squad
and the Central Precinct opened August 15, 1992.
First Police Summer Youth
Camp for inner-city boys, ages 8-12, is held.
1993 brought the creation
of the Downtown Precinct, which became the sixth
The Tel-Serve reporting
system becomes operational.
MPD monthly newsletter
"Behind the Badge" begins publication.
The Field Training
Officer Program was implemented in all six precincts.
The Police Advisory
Council was created to act as a liaison between the
police and the community.
A Computer Network links
precincts to bureaus.
program begins for at-risk males, ages 18-30.
Burglary Squad created by
the restructuring of Investigative Services.
In 1994, the COACT Unit
was created and assigned to the Orange-Mound/Binghampton
area to initiate new Community Policing Program. This
program was expanded to Mississippi/Walker in the fall.
The Memphis Police Sports
Federation was formed to promote athletics within the
The Training Academy
initiates "Freeze" pepper gas training for all officers.
Seventy-five recruits graduate from the Training Academy
as the largest class in Memphis Police Department
Uniform Patrol divided
into two districts containing 3 precincts each.
Citizens Police Academy
begins in the South Precinct as a nine-week training
course for civilians.
D.A.R.E. is launched in
the Memphis City Schools with eight officers and 800
Officers attend Bike Patrol School at Training Academy
for full certification.
Olander Franklin promoted
to Chief Inspector, the first female to hold that
As 1995 began, the
anti-gang program G.R.E.A.T. joined D.A.R.E. in the city
COACT was expanded to the
areas of Jefferson and Cleveland and Cooper-Young.
A civilian, Kathy Todd,
is promoted to Chief Administrative Officer over
The long awaited
Promotional process for sergeants and above begins and
is scheduled for completion in the Spring of 1996.
Weapons Watch, patterned
after Crime Stoppers, is introduced within the city
Over 400 guns are
confiscated in the first year.
A new restraint device,
the Ripp Hobble, is issued to all officers.
In 1996, Walter J.
Winfrey is named Director of Police Services by Mayor
COACT is expanded in the
Westwood, Cooper-Young, and Jefferson-Cleveland areas.
Westwood begins its Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program.
Family Trouble Center
moves to North Precinct and begins work on its Domestic
Violence Pilot Project.
Internal Affairs and
Security Squad move to new offices in the 100 N. Main
a website on the Internet.
HBO documentary "Memphis
PD: War on the Streets" premieres. The America
Undercover documentary takes an inside look at the
emotional toll police work is exacting upon police
East and South Precincts
hold their first "Back-to-School" supply giveaways to
over 1,000 children.
First Crime Prevention
Merit Badge is awarded to the MPD Boy Scout troops by
completed in January of 1996 and the first officers in a
large pool of sergeants, lieutenants, majors, and
inspectors promoted in May.
In 1997, the Mounted
Patrol was invited to participate in President Bill
Clinton's Second Inauguration in Washington, DC.
Wellness Study started
and conducted by University of Tennessee Department of
Preventative Medicine on bike officers and nonbike
officers in the West Precinct. The study will monitor
the officer's stress levels over a 6 and 12 month period
and is the first study of its type in the U.S.
MPD begins its own hiring
process, separate from City Hall Personnel, and utilizes
print media, as well as, billboards as part of the
Bethel Labelle COACT
opens in the East Precinct.
75th Recruit Class
graduates 66 new police officers.
Jackson Avenue COACT
opens within the Hispanic area of Jackson and National.
Several bilingual officers are assigned to this
Street Crime Abatement
Team (SCAT) formed. Made up of sergeants and TACT Unit
officers this unit's primary objective is to target
specific street crimes and hot spot locations throughout
The MPD Accountability
Plan - a quarterly report to Mayor Herenton - begins
in February of 1997.
Civilian Terrence Woods
is appointed as Deputy Chief over Administrative
Director Winfrey and his
Command Staff begin implementation of Strategic Action
Debby Hall is hired as
the MPD's new Media Relations spokesperson.
MPD begins to implement
the COMPSTAT program which is modeled after the NYPD's
successful computer crime analysis program. COMPSTAT
spreads to each precinct and involves "report cards"
that track crime within each precinct.
In 1998, Brenda Harris
Jones becomes the first female to achieve the rank of
Deputy Chief within the Memphis Police Department.
Largest recruit class in
MPD history graduates 113 new police officers on June
18, 1998 at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
Director Winfrey begins
his monthly "Townhall Meetings."
Richard McBryde is
appointed as the Executive Commander of Police
Administration and will oversee Finance, Personnel,
Communications, Administrative Services, and Information
The Southeast precinct
opens on July 1st at the now closed Defense Depot on
Airways. It is the MPD's seventh precinct facility.
Crisis Intervention Team
members - Danny Parris, Debra Ham-Kelly, Sheryl Stanback
and Roger Nelson - are recognized for ten years of
service to the CIT program and for being CIT "pioneers"
at the annual CIT Banquet.
Orange Mound COACT opens
in the Central Precinct in the first building built
specifically for a COACT Unit.
Graceland COACT opens in
the South Precinct and Todd's Creek COACT opens in the
Over 900 kids attend 29
Anti-gang/Anti-drug summer camps sponsored by the MPD
and the Black United Fund.
The Sage SL-6 27mm L3AOS
(Less Lethal Launched Ammunition Ordnance System) is
implemented after CIT and Tact Officers recieve training
in its use.
Westwood COACT is
recognized by the National League of Cities for
Excellence in Community Policing.
In December the largest
recruit class in MPD history graduates 117 new officers.
Binghampton COACT opens
in the Lester Community Center.
Seven Officers from
Chisinau Moldova visit the MPD in January of 1999 as
part of an international exchange program sponsored by
the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The
Moldovan officers spend two weeks learning about the
MPD. Seven Officers from Memphis travel to Chisinau for
their two weeks of Moldovan training in February.
In April of 1999 Director
Walter Winfrey retires after 31 years of service. W.P.
"Bill" Oldham is appointed Director by Mayor Herenton.
Deputy Chief Dugger is appointed Deputy Director and
Inspector Mike Dodd is promoted to Deputy Chief over
Uniform Patrol District 1.
In July, ground was
broken for the Northeast Precinct which will be
completed by the Spring of 2000. This precinct is lauded
as a true "community" precinct and will have computer
kiosks setup to allow citizens the opportunity to look
up crime reports, traffic information and other MPD
Hickory Hill COACT opened
in the newly annexed area of Memphis. A capacity crowd
attended the grand opening.
The first Citizen's
Police Academy is held at the Hickory Hill COACT with a
waiting list for the next class.
Bike Patrols are expanded
to the East Precinct and to the Hickory Hill area.
Laptop computers are
installed in the squad cars and officers receive
training on their use.
Mobile data beepers are
tested in the field by bike officers, mounted patrol
officers, and motorcycle officers. These "beepers" are
used to run vehicle tag numbers, drivers license
numbers, and warrant checks.
On December 7, 1999
Interim Director Bill Oldham retires after 27 years of
service to the Memphis Police Department. Deputy Chief
Walter E. Crews is named Interim Director by Mayor
The Memphis Police Sports
Federation inducts eleven officers in to the newly
unveiled Sports Federation Hall of Fame located in the
Training Academy on April 10th.
After a 4 year drought
brought on by lawsuits 20 patrol officers were promoted
to the rank of sergeant on February 24th, 2000.
On June 8th, 2000 the 81st Basic Recruit
Session graduated 34 new police officers.
July 13, 2000 Mayor
Herenton names Walter E. Crews as permanent Director
after a nationwide search.
Director Crews appoints
James H. Bolden as Deputy Director to replace Deputy
Director David Dugger and names Dr. Rita Dorsey head of
the Training Bureau. Deputy Chiefs Brenda Jones and Sam
Moses retire and are replaced by Chuck Cook and Al
Gray. Inspector Mary Wright is promoted to Chief
Administrative Officer and replaces the retiring Richard
and 63 sergeants were promoted during a standing room
only ceremony held at City Hall on July 12th, 2000. On
the list of those getting promoted were several
interesting pairs - mother and son ( Sgts. Dennis and
Vertie McNeil); brothers (Sgts. Tim and William Green);
sisters (Sgts. LaFrancine and Gayniece Bennett) and
husband and wife (Lt. Michelle and Sgt. Jay Locastro).
Northeast Precinct opens
in August of 2000 as the MPD's eighth precinct and the
first newly constructed precinct facility in decades.
The COP Team is formed in
the fall of 2000. COP stands for Child Occupancy
Protection and officers assigned to the COP Team
check for properly installed child restraint seats and
educate parents about child safety. The first two
members of the COP Team were Officers Stoddard and
Hawkins who received special National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration training.
Fall of 2000 the Memphis
Police squad car takes on a new look as a new design is
unveiled - the first new design since 1992. The bold red
stripe and bright blue letters reading "POLICE" are
designed to increase police visibility. This look,
designed by Sgt. Susan Lowe, is also applied to the
Crime Response Unit's new mobile crime response van, as
well as, 2 MPD Youth Program vans.
Person/Juvenile Squad is formed in October of 2000 to
investigate missing persons and juvenile runaways. The
squad is comprised of retired officers, one full-time
sergeant and a captain and is located at the Northeast
Director Crews announces in November
that Occupational Nurse Carol Harriss and Finance
Manager Chuck Fox will join the Administrative Services
Division of the MPD. Nurse Harriss will be in charge of
the MPD's Hypertension Program as well as other OJI
duties while Mr. Fox will manage the Finance Division.
In January of 2001 the Training Academy
was the site of another standing room only crowd who
gathered to watch 8 new inspectors and 22 new majors
cross the auditorium stage to accept their new
Officer Marco Yzguirre is designated as
the first Latino Liaison for the Memphis Police
Department in February of 2001. Officer Yzguirre hosts
his first Latino Townhall meeting and over 1,400 Latino
In the spring of 2001, Law Enforcement
News names the MPD's Crisis Intervention Team as its
2000 People of the Year.
The Child Abuse Unit is moved into the
newly renovated Child Advocacy Center on Poplar Ave.
In 2001 the MPD became a liaison with YO
Memphis (Youth Opportunity Movement), a nationwide
initiative funded by the Department of Labor. During
their annual awards ceremony the MPD was recognized as
one of YO Memphis' outstanding partners.
The East Precinct hosts the first
Bi-Cultural Citizens Police Academy and graduates 30 new
ambassadors in May of 2001.
The MPD sends a large contingency of
police athletes to the World Police & Fire Games in
Indianapolis. They return with a slew of gold, silver
and bronze medals.
The East Precinct hosts the first 3-0n-3
"Taking it to the Rim" Basketball tournament and draws
2165 kids from 54 teams on August 11th, 2001.
The Central Precinct hosts the first
annual citywide Summer Safety Fair. Over 320 children
from various community centers attended the day long
The Memphis Police Sports
Federation inducts 21 officers in to the Sports
Federation Hall of Fame on October 6th. This is the
second group of inductees for the Hall of Fame.
The Brooks Road
Substation opens on October 9th.
Promotions are held in the Property Room
on November 2nd as Alnita Campbell and Jackie Layrock
are both promoted to supervisor after 19 years as
property room attendants.
Ground is broken on
November 16th for the future home of the new Central
Precinct which will be located on Tillman just North of
Johnson. It is scheduled for completion in late 2002.
On December 6, 2001 the
Memphis Police Department welcomed 64 new Memphis Police
Officers who graduated from the Training Academy as part
of the 84th Basic Recruit Class.
Design work begins on the
restoration of the old police headquarters located at
128 Adams. Plans call for the police department to
relocate the executive, administrative and investigative
offices in the historic building upon completion of the
restoration project in late 2005, early 2006.
In March of 2002 Deputy
Director Bolden launched the P.R.E.P. Program designed
to act as an introductory program for junior and senior
high school students who wish to pursue a career in law
Director Crews and his
Command Staff promoted three majors and 56 lieutenants
on April 12th of 2002.
The MPD welcomed 48 new
police officers on June 20th during Basic Recruit
graduation exercises held in Whitehaven.
In the Fall of 2002 Director Crews
announces the formation of the Juvenile Violence
Abatement Project and appoints Dr. Rita Dorsey,
commander of the Training Academy, as its project
coordinator. Major Jimmy Kelly is selected as Training
In January of 2003 246 police officers
are promoted to the rank of sergeant - the largest
promotional process in MPD history.
In February of 2003 Director Crews
announces his retirement after 33 plus years with the
Memphis Police Department. Mayor Herenton taps Deputy
Director James Bolden to be the next Director of Police
Services pending confirmation by the City Council.
In March of 2003 the Memphis City
Council confirms James H. Bolden as the next Memphis
In the Spring of 2003 demolition work
begins at 128 Adams - the historic police building that
was abandoned in the 1980s - as the dream of finally
restoring it to its former splendor becomes a reality.
Renovation will begin in 2004 with a scheduled grand
opening in the Summer/Fall of 2006. This renovated
historic facility will not only house the MPD Command
Staff and police personnel but also City Courts and
Director Bolden presented his new
management team on April 11th during a promotional
ceremony in the Director’s Conference Room. Deputy
Chief Ray Schwill was promoted to Deputy Director and
will be in charge of the police department’s day-to-day
operations. Director Bolden also promoted Inspector
Janice Pilot of the North Precinct and Inspector Larry
Godwin of Special Operations to Deputy Chief. Deputy
Chief Pilot will be over Uniform Patrol District Two and
Deputy Chief Godwin will oversee Special Operations.
These two new Chiefs will fill vacancies that were
created when Chief Schwill was promoted to Deputy
Director and the retirement of Deputy Chief Mike Dodd.
Inspector Mary Wright was also promoted to Deputy Chief
and will remain in Administrative Services where her
duties will remain the same. Chief Gray has been
assigned to Investigative Services and Chief Cook will
oversee Uniform Patrol District One.
The Fraud & Document Unit changes its
name to Economic Crimes Bureau as their investigative
focus has expanded due to an increase in internet fraud
and credit card and identity theft.
The Central Precinct moves to a new
state-of-the-art facility at 426 Tillman in July of
2003. The building, located in the heart of Binghampton,
not only serves as a police precinct but also features
community rooms and a computer lab for citizens and
other city employees.
In August of 2004 Director Bolden and
Deputy Director Schwill retired. Mayor Herenton appoints
Larry Godwin to the position of Interim Director and
Ernest Dobbins as Interim Deputy Director. On November
9th the City Council approved of the Mayor's
appointments of Director Godwin and Deputy Director
On November 16th, 2004
Director Godwin and Deputy Director Dobbins made history
when they promoted 4 new Deputy Chiefs. This was the
first time that four Chiefs received their appointments
at one time. The new Deputy Chiefs are: Annette Taylor
(Special Operations), Mike Lee (Investigative Services),
Jim Tusant (Administrative Services) and Bobby Todd (
Uniform Patrol). These four new Chiefs join Deputy Chief
Janice Pilot (Uniform Patrol) to fill out Director
Godwin's Command Staff.
On December 2, 2004, the
Department held a Medal Ceremony in the City Council
Chambers at City Hall to honor 37 officers who had gone
above and beyond the call of duty. Medals received by
these brave officers included Life Saving, Medal of
Valor, Medal of Merit and Medal of Honor.
In a sign of unity, Director Godwin abolished the “white
shirt “designation for command staff personnel and
returned all commissioned officers to a unified blue
shirt to foster a stronger team concept within the
In January of 2005, positions in Special Operations were
deleted to better utilize manpower based on need.
Created a Street Crime Task Force within the Organized
Crime Unit to address street crime from the ground
In February of 2005 the squad car striping package was
re-designed in order to save money on future vehicles
and on those damaged by accidents or normal wear and
tear. This provided a savings of approximately $300.00
In February 2005, the “Paperless Reporting Project” was
completed. Officers in the field were issued a hand-held
PDA unit that enables them to complete a TIBRS/NIBRS
compliant offense report on a hand-held computer. Using
a wireless connection to submit reports from the field
this new device provides for a quicker submission of
During the spring of 2005 the Hispanic Action Team (HAT)
was established in order to address crime and quality of
life issues within the Hispanic Community.
In April, Director Godwin and his Command Staff
evaluated rank structure within the department and
determined that operationally the rank of 30-year
captain was unnecessary thus saving the Memphis Police
Department 1.4 million dollars.
The spring of 2005 saw the delivery for Fiscal Year ‘05
of one of the best budgets in Memphis Police Department
history with a savings of over $950,000.00 in overtime
expenses since August 4, 2004.
The classification of the police vehicles for licensing
was changed in the spring of 2005 which amounted to a
savings of $18,000.00 for the next 5 years.
In June of 2005 the MPD received final approval for the
completion of the renovation of 128 Adams – the Memphis
Police Department’s Historical Headquarters.
The new Felony Assault Unit was launched in June of
2005, in order to aggressively investigate aggravated
assaults in the same manner in which homicides, rapes
and robberies are investigated.
The MPD Command Staff sought and received approval from
the City Council in June to install red light cameras at
various intersections throughout the city.
The MPD secured, through a partnership with Memphis
Light Gas and Water, a new facility for the
Entertainment District Unit in the spring of 2005 with
occupancy expected in late summer of 2005.
A new partnership with the University of Memphis was
created to establish an on-campus facility for the
Juvenile Violence Abatement Project (JVAP) was
restructured in order to return its supervision and
direction to law enforcement personnel.
Returned the management of the COACT Units to the
precinct level for better allocation of resources and
In 2005 the names of each precinct (East Precinct to Mt.
Moriah Station) were changed to better relate and
identify with the communities served.
In response to homeland security needs the MPD created
the Memphis Police Department’s own Office of Homeland
Returned the management of the Public Information Office
back to commissioned personnel.
Returned Administrative Services to the command of a
commissioned Deputy Chief.
On June 17th, 2005, the first 94 of 165 new lieutenants
were promoted at a ceremony held at the Cook Convention
Center when these former sergeants received their new
lieutenant badges and assignments. The remaining
sergeants on the promotional list will be promoted to
lieutenant within two years.
Operation Blue CRUSH was launched in the fall of 2005
and was moved under the umbrella of the Organized Crime
Unit evolving from a part-time operation to a full-time
Promotions for Inspector were held in September of 2005.
The Major’s process was cancelled by City of Memphis
Human Resources in November of 2005.
In 2006 delivered a $2 million surplus for Fiscal Year
2006 which includes a $730,000 surplus in overtime. This
surplus is also the result of a hiring freeze for
The MPD reduced Capital Improvements Budget Request in
2006 from $38.2 million to $5.3 million for the upcoming
Fiscal Year 2007 by cutting the following projects:
Police Headquarters Renovation, Impound Lot, Union
Station Relocation, Traffic Precinct, Precinct
Renovations, Academy Expansion, In-Car Video Project,
Precinct Repave Project, South Main Station Relocation,
Police Helicopter, and Radio Repair.
In the Spring of 2006 redeployed manpower by eliminating
non-essential units such as JVAP, Crime Education, and
PREP and reduced staffing at DARE/GREAT (2 officers) and
at the Boxing Gym (one Lieutenant). Also eliminated the
position of Crime Information Officer at all Precincts
and returned those patrol officers to the field.
In the fall of 2006 a new unit was created - Criminal
Apprehension Team (CAT) - to expand the resources of
Operation Blue CRUSH, focusing on both problematic crime
and known high crime areas inside the City of Memphis.
The Criminal Apprehension Team encompasses the Hispanic
Action Response Team and former members of the Metro
Gang Unit working in conjunction with Project Safe
Neighborhoods and the Auto Cargo Theft Task Force.
Operation Blue CRUSH crime analysis process set up to
involve MPD Comp Stat, the University of Memphis Center
for Community Criminology and Research, Uniform Patrol,
Investigative Services, and the Organized Crime Unit.
Awarded First Place in the largest municipality category
(2,001+ Officers) for enforcing traffic laws and protecting
the public on occupant protection, impaired driving, and
speeding in the 2006 National Law Enforcement Challenge
sponsored by the International Association of Police Chiefs.
In 2005, MPD placed second to LAPD. Director Godwin
challenged our officers and in 2006, we took first place and
LAPD took second to us.
Delivered over a $2 million
surplus for Fiscal Year 2007. Received Council budget
approval of $4.8 million to hire additional 126 new police
officers in 2007.
Received Council approval of $1.5 million to build and
implement a new high-tech investigative tool called the Real
Time Crime Center
Promoted 2 Inspectors, bringing the rank to full complement.
Added an additional Police Information Officer (PIO) in
order to address the need for better public relations with
the media and the community.
Separated from the Shelby County Metro DUI Unit and
increased officers from 9 to 18 to concentrate more
resources on DUI enforcement inside the City of Memphis.
This new unit, while enhancing visibility and protection for
our citizens, increased DUI arrests and traffic enforcement
by over 5%.
Traffic has increased interstate visibility and traffic
enforcement to lower traffic crash percentages and increase
Opened the new Ridgeway Station Precinct and the new Dog
Launched Cyberwatch Pilot Program -The first phase of this
program allows citizens to receive vital information
relevant to their particular neighborhood by email
notification. This information includes; offenses occurring,
wanted parties, sex offenders and parolees. Citizens are
encouraged to send in tips via email. Two additional phases
will be forthcoming.
Received National Accreditation from the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). MPD
placed in the top ten of large departments with a completion
of 394 out of 400 standards.
Hosted the 3rd National Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Conference in 2007. The MPD continues to serve as the
founding pioneer of this invaluable community tool.
In 2008 the MPD graduated 275 recruits from the Training
Academy; over 2,800 applications reviewed for potential
Graduated 178 citizens from the Citizens Police Academy in
Partnered with First Tennessee Bank and The Commercial
Appeal to launch an Identity Theft campaign that included
public awareness seminars, PSAs, and informational
Launched the "Stow It! Don't
Show It" anti-theft campaign to combat thefts from vehicles.
The Memphis Police Department officially launched its
2008-2009 Police Recruit campaign in October of 2008 aimed
at aggressively recruiting new officers. The new advertising
campaign was designed to attract qualified and dedicated
individuals who want a career in law enforcement serving the
City of Memphis. The unprecedented recruiting effort will
continue for eighteen months to include remarkable TV,
radio, print and online ads and bright and colorful
billboards and bus shelter posters.
MPD Recruiters visited 13 Memphis City high schools to talk
to 11th and 12th graders about the Police Service Technician
program and to hand out job applications.
Graduated 18 Police Service Technicians from the Training
Received approval to implement 40 Traffic Crash Investigator
positions in order to stabilize the complement of personnel
available for minor crash investigations and to free up
police officers for patrol duties. The new TCIs are slated
to be hired in January of 2010.
Promoted 4 Deputy Chiefs, 5 Colonels and 15 Majors to
continue filling the upper level management positions
critical to ensuring accountability of department members.
Much of 2008 has been spent in development of other programs
that will emerge from the RTCC in 2009. Among them are 3,000
Offender Tracking Bracelets for support of the criminal
justice system in six counties in Tennessee, Mississippi,
and Arkansas; the integration of the SkyCop camera system
into the COBRA alarm system; and the development of License
Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras. Seventy LPR vehicles and 40
fixed LPR Units will be placed into operation in 2009.
Launched an online, web based crime tip system for Crime
Stoppers that will allow, for the first time, anonymous
interaction between the tipsters and the police and give the
MPD the capability of asking a tipster follow-up questions.
Separated from the West Tennessee Drug Task Force and
created the Interstate Criminal Interdiction Unit. Since the
inception of the ICI Taskforce, over 325 pounds of
marijuana, ¾ pound of cocaine, 2.4 pounds of
methamphetamine, 15 vehicles, and $927, 172.00 has been
confiscated by the taskforce.
On November 3, 2008 Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin
entered in to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
Regional Counter Training Academy (RCTA) Meridian, MS
agreeing that members of the Organized Crime Undercover
Operations Unit would teach a two week highly intensive
pass/fail (Over 120 Hrs.) Undercover Certification Course at
the RCTA training facility in Meridian. Director Godwin
agreed that the Memphis Police Department undercover staff
would conduct three of these courses during the 2008 fiscal
year staggered on a four month time line. To date 92
students including 9 Memphis Police Department Undercover
Officers from, 12 states: AL, MS, GA, FL, LA, TX, TN, WI,
MO, IN and KY have successfully completed this course.
The Met Life Foundation honored the MPD’s Hollywood COACT
and Rhodes College for significant accomplishments in
reducing crime and improving quality of life in the City of
Memphis. The Neighborhood Revitalization Award sponsored by
MetLife Foundation and administered by the Local Initiatives
Support Corporation (LISC), recognized partnerships between
community development groups and police departments that
have reduced crime and spurred housing development, economic
activity and improved community services in low-and
The Memphis Police Foundation was formed in May 2008, as a
501(C)(3) non-profit organization, to provide private sector
support to our police department and contribute to the
development of an innovative, technologically advanced
police force optimally engaged with the community it serves.
Fifteen biracial board members have come together with great
enthusiasm to leverage their expertise in the areas of
finance, research, marketing, public relations, fundraising
and development to build philanthropic support for our
The MPD's Real Time Crime Center was recognized in 2009 for
Excellence in Law Enforcement Communications and
Interoperability when the MPD won the top award for
"excellence in law enforcement and information technology"
at the 33rd annual International Association of Chiefs of
Police Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Director Larry Godwin was
honored during a luncheon at The Peabody by the Rotary Club
of Memphis East on August 5th when he was presented with the
“Bobby Dunavant Non-Elected Public Servant Award”. The
prestigious award, named after the late Bobby Dunavant who
was the Probate Court Clerk for 21 years, is given to two
recipients each year - one an elected public servant and the
other a non-elected public servant. Award winners are
selected based on the characteristics best displayed by
Dunavant in the years he served the citizens of Memphis and
Shelby County. Director Godwin joins an elite list of past
honorees that include: Robert Lipscomb, Bill Gibbons, County
Mayor A C Wharton, Judge Larry Potter and Bartlett Mayor
Keith McDonald. City Councilman Bill Boyd joins that list
this year with Director Godwin as the recipient of the
“Elected Public Servant” award.
The Memphis Police Department
was the recipient of two special awards on October 14th at
the 2009 Vox Awards sponsored by the Memphis chapter of the
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The MPD was
recognized in the “Public Service” category for two
different media campaigns and received the top award -
called the Vox - for the 2008-2010 MPD Recruitment Campaign
and the 2009 “Memphis Fights Financial Fraud” Campaign with First
The Memphis Police Department
was recognized in New Orleans in July of 2010 during the
Project Safe Neighborhoods Conference. The MPD received the
Outstanding Local Training Program Award for developing and
administering a series of training programs designed to
improve the quality of officers’ criminal investigations,
case documentation and courtroom presentations. The training
was initially constructed for the Memphis Police
Department’s Organized Crime Unit In-Service training and
used actual case reports and warrants that the drug and vice
teams had prepared. AUSA’s and District Attorneys conducted
mock suppression hearings, trials, and lectured for eight
hour blocks each week for four consecutive weeks. The
training was then adapted for an Undercover Operations
School conducted by the Memphis Police Department, which
involved officers from across the country.
On the heels of the National Project Safe Neighborhoods
award, the Memphis Police Department received a National
award from Nucleus Research on July 21st. The Memphis Police
Department was one of only ten companies and governmental
agencies to receive the 2010 Nucleus Research ROI award. Out
of 350 technology projects that were submitted, the Memphis
Police Department was one of only two governmental agencies
to receive an award. The other governmental agency was the
US State Department. The ROI (Return On Investment) award is
based on the company’s or government agency’s return on
investment from their use of technology. SPSS software is
used at the Memphis Police Department Real Time Crime Center
for analyzing crime data to assist with the Blue Crush
initiatives including “hot spot” policing and deployment of
officers. Blue CRUSH has greatly expanded over the years and
now works in tandem with MPD’s Real Time Crime Center
(RTCC), a $3 million state-of-the-art crime monitoring and
analysis hub that opened in June 2008.
In September of 2010, two British police forces have begun to implement Blue
CRUSH™ after seeing how the Memphis Police Department was
able to see a 31 percent reduction in overall crime and a 15
percent fall in violent crime. The system has also been
credited with improving morale among officers of the Memphis
police by boosting arrest rates and helping them to feel as
if they are “making a difference.”
In April of 2011 Director Godwin retired. Mayor Wharton appoints Toney Armstrong to the position of Director of Police Services. City Council unanimously approved the Mayor's appointment of Director Toney Armstrong.
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