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Two months ago, the heads of the Memphis Police and Fire Departments were called directors. By June, they will both be called chiefs .
Why did the city change the name of the titles? City officials say the reason is simple so it could be more like everywhere else. Most U.S. cities use the title chief when describing top police and fire officials.
Dan Springer, the city s deputy chief operating officer, said the city is in process of changing the name of MFD Director Gina Sweat s position to the chief of fire services. The city executed a similar switch with incoming MPD Chief C.J. Davis. Davis predecessor Mike Rallings was the director of police services.
The 901: Memphis has new police chief; pipeline vote delayed again
Happy Cinco de Mayo from Memphis where the weather has moved out leaving a cooler but beautifully sunny day in the Bluff City today.
During her confirmation hearings Tuesday, Davis faced questions about the potential time limit on her tenure. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who appointed Davis, is term-limited and will leave the office at the end of 2023.
The new police chief said she hoped the initial 2½ years of her tenure would be so successful that the next mayor would feel a need to keep her on the job.
Her first day as Memphis chief will be June 14. She will make $230,037.60, the same as her predecessor Mike Rallings.
Appreciation for leadership and bringing home of a championship were in order in commission chambers. Author: Rudy Williams Updated: 10:18 PM CDT April 26, 2021
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Shelby County leadership was honored during Monday s meeting of County Commissioners.
Changing property tax assessments put on hold, again and the county s governing body unanimously approves the formation of a Black Caucus.
Full support was expressed for the faction of the commission.
The proposal was sponsored by the 7 Black members along with Commissioner Michael Whaley.
The Black Caucus is meant to address concerns of Black communities across Shelby County.
Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said he believes this can be a model for other communities across the country.
C.J. Davis, the nominee to be the next chief of the Memphis Police Department, signaled a willingness to release body camera footage to ease community tensions in the event of a contentious incident between residents and MPD.
Davis also said she would show up at a public forum if the Memphis City Council held one ahead of the body s vote on her nomination.
Davis, the current police chief in Durham, N.C., sat down for an interview with The Commercial Appeal during a media tour Tuesday, the day after Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced her nomination. The CA s questions and Davis answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Good Tuesday morning Memphis, where we re learning more about the newly named police chief and awaiting a pivotal vote in Memphis City Council on the controversial Byhalia Connection pipeline.
But first, we re starting with big plans at Shelby County Schools, announced yesterday by Superintendent Joris Ray.
SCS wants to reimagine its footprint in Shelby County with a plan that proposes building five new schools and closing about 13 to 15 others, mostly through consolidation. The plan proposes additions to at least 13 existing schools, our Laura Testino reports.
Unveiled for the first time in a presentation to district board members Monday, the plan includes phases of work to take place over the next 10 years, through 2031. Capital projects require funding and approval from the county commission, which is scheduled to see the plan during a meeting Wednesday.