The U.S. Department of Justice released a report stating that the Memphis Police Department engages in policing that violates the civil rights of Memphians. The report followed a 16-month investigation that found the department uses excessive force, conducts unlawful stops, searches, and arrests, and discriminates against Black people and individuals with behavioral health disabilities. The DOJ also highlighted troubling policing practices affecting children in Memphis. Despite the city’s cooperation during the investigation, Memphis declined federal oversight in the form of a consent decree, which mandates improvement plans post DOJ findings of misconduct within a department.
The report revealed that MPD prioritizes intense street-level enforcement without proper safeguards, leading to many violations. Black Memphians disproportionately experience these violations, while white Memphians are treated less harshly. The DOJ also criticized MPD’s response to mental health calls and its interactions with the city’s youth, where officers often escalate encounters with aggressive language and force.
The report detailed nearly 3,000 instances of force used by MPD between 2020 and 2023, including unwarranted use against individuals charged with minor offenses. MPD’s training policies were identified as priming officers to resort to force as the primary resolution in encounters. The report also criticized MPD’s handling of traffic stops, their unreasonable searches, and seizures, and the disproportionate enforcement of laws in majority Black neighborhoods.
The DOJ highlighted disparities in citations and arrests based on race, with Black individuals being cited and arrested for minor offenses, drug offenses, and moving violations at higher rates than white individuals. The report concluded that MPD’s response to mental health crises discriminates against individuals suffering from behavioral health disabilities. The DOJ’s investigation aims to address these violations and implement reforms to protect the civil rights of Memphians and increase trust between the community and law enforcement.
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