‘She is our chief’: City leaders, community sound off on interim police chief decision
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Until further notice, C.J. Davis will be the interim police chief of the Memphis Police Department.
This was an agreement made by Mayor Paul Young and the Memphis City Council during executive session on Tuesday.
“I think the interim appointment is what the people asked us to do, which is find a way to compromise on this issue so we can get to work,” said Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. after the decision.
For Mayor Young and Davis, it was a time to celebrate.
“I’m overwhelmed. The support is amazing and I think it’s a reflection of the community at large,” said Davis as she walked into council chambers. “I love the men and women of the Memphis Police Department and I think they know that. I love this community and I’ve served two-and-a-half years of my heart to this community and I plan to continue to do that.”
Young said, “We’ll move to an interim capacity. She still has my full faith and support to lead this department, which is exactly what she’s gonna do.”
In those same council chambers, council members were met with supporters of Davis and also those who opposed her re-appointment.
“I’m a citizen of Memphis, Tennessee, and I care about transformational change and I believe she is the person who can drive transformational change in Memphis but it takes time,” said Beverly Robertson, a supporter and the former president/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.
“She employs murderers, she does not ever take accountability for her actions and the part she plays in the happenings as far as the department,” said community activist LJ Abraham.
In a press conference soon after an appearance in city council, Young reiterated that he is standing behind Davis, which means no search for a new chief as Davis takes this interim role.
“She is our chief. It’s just an interim title. But this is our chief. Like I said up there, we’re going to show and prove we want to get results,” he said.
Davis echoed that sentiment, saying. “Let’s keep our foot on the accelerator so that we can show this community that Memphis can be better and that we can get to a place where our citizens feel safe in their homes, they feel safe commuting, they feel safe in retail establishments as well.”
No timetable as to how long this interim appointment will last.
The council will still have to have an official vote on whether she will be re-appointed as the permanent chief.
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