Memphis Police violated Constitution, DOJ investigation finds
by: David Royer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law, the Justice Department said Wednesday, following a 17-month investigation.
The investigation found MPD uses excessive force, conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests and unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law. DOJ said the City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children, and identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct, DOJ said in a news release.
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The announcement came just as the city said in a letter that it would not enter into a consent decree with the DOJ over its policing practices.
“After evaluating the effects of these consent decrees in other cities, we believe there are better ways to reimagine policing that do not slow the process or cost the taxpayers millions of dollars,” the letter from the city stated.
Federal officials announced a pattern and practice investigation into the Memphis Police Department and the city of Memphis on July 27, 2023. The investigation aimed to determine whether there is a pattern of constitutional or civil rights violations against citizens.
Justice Department said the investigation began after allegations by citizens of excessive police force, force against people who are already restrained, and traffic enforcement that may be targeting Black drivers for minor citations.
The government stepped in after now-former Memphis officers were caught on video beating 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, who later died. Those officers faced state and federal charges and the city faces a $550 million lawsuit.
The Justice Department has scheduled a press conference to discuss the findings at 9 a.m. Thursday. The city has set a press conference to respond to the findings just after the DOJ’s press conference ends.
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