Memphis City Council calls on MPD for more community policing
City Council calls for community policing By Brandon Richard | January 5, 2021 at 6:31 PM CST - Updated January 5 at 6:50 PM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - It’s going to be a big year for the Memphis Police Department.
But there’s still a lot of work for him to do.
Rallings says the big issue MPD is dealing with right now is staffing, an old problem made worse by the pandemic.
Like other organizations, MPD has been dealing with COVID-19.
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He says staffing is the reason MPD has not been able to meet the council’s request to add an additional community policing unit, known as COACT police units.
Residency requirements for first-responders in Tennessee could soon be a thing of the past.
State Sen. Brian Kelsey R-Germantown has filed a bill that would ban local governments from requiring police officers and firefighters live within whatever municipal limits local governments require. Instead, first-responders would be allowed to live where they please.
Kelsey filed Senate Bill 29 ahead of the Tennessee General Assembly s legislative session this month. He touted it as a means of allowing municipalities to hire more police officers and make up what departments, including the Memphis Police Department, describe as staffing shortages.
“This is a public safety bill. It will enable us to hire more police officers, which will help us fight our rising crime rates, said Kelsey in a statement. This bill will support our police and fire officers who keep us safe by allowing them to live where they choose.
Health department vaccine rollout continues for first responders
Shelby County first responders receive vaccine By Brandon Richard | December 29, 2020 at 7:14 PM CST - Updated January 12 at 11:45 AM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Shelby County Health Department continues its vaccination rollout.
This week, itâs administering vaccines to frontline health care workers and first responders like police, fire and EMT personnel.
Theyâre among the first to get the vaccine because the nature of their jobs means they must encounter different people day-to-day.
First responders receive first dose of vaccine today
âOnly those who are invited or fall in that category can get vaccinated at those two sites,â said Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Alisa Haushalter.
Shelby County first responders encourage Memphians to get vaccine when available
First responders receive first dose of vaccine today By Briseida Holguin | December 28, 2020 at 6:10 PM CST - Updated January 12 at 11:45 AM
“I think it’s very important for us as leaders, especially as an African American leader to role model,” said Memphis Police Director Mike Rallings.
Rallings, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat all got the vaccine Monday.
COVID-19 vaccination of first responders in Shelby Co.
As of now, no Shelby County employee is required to get the vaccine, but Rallings says he hopes he’s setting an example for the men and women in blue, and the citizens they serve.