Memphis police ‘unlawfully discriminates,’ uses excessive force against Black people, Justice Department says in report

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – The U.S. Department of Justice released a report Wednesday following a 17-month investigation into the practices of the Memphis Police Department in Tennessee.

According to the report, the Justice Department found that the city of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department are liable for multiple federal civil rights violations, specifically:

• the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force.
• the Memphis Police Department conducts unlawful stops, searches, and arrests.
• the Memphis Police Department unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
• the city of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.

The DOJ also identified concerns about MPD’s treatment of children and deficiencies in policy, training, supervision, and accountability that contribute to the department’s and the city’s unlawful conduct.

The DOJ launched the investigation in July 2023. This investigation is separate and independent from the federal criminal civil rights investigation of MPD officers into the death of Tyre Nichols.

“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust, and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches, and arrests, and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”

The city of Memphis argues the DOJ investigation was rushed. The unreleased findings took 17 months compared to an average of 2-3 years in similar investigations.

The city says it will not enter a consent decree until it has had the chance to review, analyze, and challenge the DOJ’s findings report.

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