Weekly Update

Friends, 

We said goodbye to a hero this week—Lt. Jeffery Norman.

Lt. Norman died in the line of duty last week, and his funeral was Wednesday.  I learned so much about him at the service.  He was a remarkable man.

Chief Sweat’s remarks were on point, and I want to share an excerpt:

“On September 23, 2002, following in the footsteps of his brother, Jeff joined the Memphis Fire Department.  Jeff was not just a dedicated firefighter, but a good human being with a kind and witty personality. He epitomized what it meant to be a firefighter – he was passionate, heroic, and devoted to his profession. 

Throughout his career, Jeff stood as a role model and mentor for many... setting a shining example through his attention to detail and his determination to do things right. He received a Life Saving Medal for his service, but I have no doubt that he touched and saved many lives as he served his country and his community.

Lieutenant Norman was more than just a colleague; he was our brother. Despite our diverse backgrounds, the firefighter bond unites us as one big family. Today, as we mourn our brother, let’s also choose to remember and celebrate his life. Let us cherish the moments of laughter, the strong camaraderie, and the spirit of service that drove Jeff to devote himself to protecting others. 

To our firefighter family, I see strength amidst the tears, resilience in the face of adversity, and unity in the wake of tragedy. We have lost one of our own, but we must remember that we are not alone. We have to lean on each other to share the burden of grief, and to draw strength from that bond that ties us all together.

Once again, to his family and loved ones, we are so sorry for the unimaginable loss you are experiencing. Please know that we are here to support you in any way we can - today, and in the days to come. 

While the pain of loss may seem insurmountable now, I want you to know that Jeff's legacy will forever remain in our hearts as an example of what it means to be a Memphis firefighter and a true hero.

Rest in peace our brother, Lieutenant Jeffrey Norman. Your watch may be over, but we will never forget you.”

Follow-up: In last Friday’s Weekly Update, I wrote about a woman firing a gun on Raines Road, and, moments later, from the parking lot of the police precinct. She was released on a $15,000 bond in November 2022, and recently, her charges were dismissed by the Shelby County District Attorney’s office. See below again for the pictures from this incident.

At a press conference earlier this week and again in his DA Office Update, the Shelby County District Attorney defended his decision to dismiss the case.

I still disagree with him. We do not disagree about the facts; we disagree with the conclusion.

Even if you accept that additional facts according to the DA are true, this person still shot a gun at another car on a public street and from a police precinct parking lot five times, and her charges were dismissed.

We have issues with gun violence in Memphis, and the tolerance for it at 201 Poplar fails to discourage future gun violence.

There must be consequences for violent actions. Please let your voice be heard. Use the email link here to share your concerns.

Staying around: This past Tuesday at city council, the USFL and your Memphis Showboats officially extended its lease to stay in Memphis for at least two more seasons. The inaugural season back in Memphis was fantastic, and we are so excited to have them back next year.

To make season ticket deposits for the 2024 Memphis Showboats, you can do so by going to theUSFL.com.

Department of Justice: It was announced yesterday, that the Department of Justice will be conducting a pattern or practice investigation into the Memphis Police Department. Just as we have been transparent and cooperative with the Department of Justice’s CRITAC Independent Review, the City will be a good partner in this new inquiry.

However, I am disappointed that my request was not granted by the Department of Justice to discuss this step before a decision was made to move down this path. I know they discussed the need for such an action with many other individuals. I hope the remainder of the process is more forthright and inclusive than it has been so far.

To the MPD family, we support you, and we are appreciative of the honorable work you do day-in and day-out to keep our community safe. I am confident that any impartial evaluation will show a department full of dedicated officers doing great work.

Tennessee Municipal League: This past weekend, TML hosted its 83^rd Conference and Expo in Nashville. During the awards ceremony, I was honored to receive the 2023 TML Municipal Champion award. While it was great to receive this acknowledgement, none of it would have been possible without the tremendous government relations team I have been fortunate enough to work with during my time as mayor.

Thanks to our team (past and present)—Alan Crone, Ursula Madden, Dabney Ring, and Dan Springer, and our consultants—Capitol & 5^th and Lang Wiseman.

Audubon Park renovations: Today, we held the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Audubon Park.

These renovations include a new playground, a picnic shelter with new trails, futsal, and LED lighting in Audubon Park. In addition to these improvements, we also planted 62 new trees.

In the very near future, this entire area—Leftwich Tennis Center, and the Links at Audubon Golf Course—will be completely redone and dramatically improved for public use. All in, City government and other community partners are investing over $200 million in public assets all around our city. Come by and check these out when you have time.

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours,