Cerelyn “CJ” Davis was confirmed Tuesday afternoon as Memphis’s new chief of police. The City Council’s 12-1 vote makes this the first time a woman has been named top cop in the department.
Her new job begins June 14, succeeding recently retired Police Director Michael Rallings, who spent his entire career as a Memphis police officer.
As the current chief of police in Durham, N.C., she is also a rare external hire in a department where promotions are often rewarded to MPD veterans. Councilmember Martavius Jones made note of that before he cast the lone no vote.
“There are some instances where I think an external candidate would be better,” he said. “The one vote that I have will reflect my personal feeling for this position at this particular time.”
Despite significant pushback from Memphis law enforcement and other agencies across Tennessee, permitless carry, or Constitutional carry, was signed into state law Thursday. This means if you have no existing convictions that would bar you from owning a gun, and you are 21 or older, you will be able to carry a firearm openly or concealed no training or permit required.
Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill into law Thursday and thanked Tennessee lawmakers and the National Rifle Association for helping him get the task done. Eighteen other states, including Mississippi and Arizona, have enacted permitless carry.
The law goes into effect on July 1. It does not apply to long guns. In addition to removing misdemeanor charges once associated with carrying a gun without a permit, the new law also introduces harsher sentencing measures for some gun crimes.
The measure would ban residency requirements for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services workers. Author: Dalisa Robles (WBIR) Updated: 12:31 PM EST March 4, 2021
TENNESSEE, USA On Thursday, the Tennessee State Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 29 which would allow first responders to live where they choose.
The measure, sponsored by State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), would ban residency requirements for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services workers. This bill as amended does not affect Hamilton County, officials said.
Kelsey explained that the bill is a matter of public safety and will allow police and fire departments to recruit top-tier first responder candidates, regardless of where they live. The lawmaker said that it will help the state address a deficit of police officers occurring throughout the country.
Credit: Memphis Police Department
Memphis police officer Patric Ferguson is accused of kidnapping and murdering a man. Joshua Rogers is accused of helping Ferguson in the crime.
1/10/2021 - A Memphis police officer is now in jail for kidnapping and murdering a man, while on duty.
The Memphis Police Department released a statement about the officer’s arrest on Twitter at 1:48 a.m. on Sunday.
On January 6, the Memphis police received a call about a missing man around 8:30 p.m. Once investigators had a chance to talk with the missing man’s girlfriend, officers learned that 30-year-old Robert Howard was last seen on January 5 in the 3500 block of Mark Twain Street around 5:00 p.m.