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When I committed to running for office, I also had to commit to being able to make the hard decisions needed to push Memphis forward. Making difficult decisions is part of the job. And when I came into office, I didn’t clean house of all former senior staffers, as some elected officials routinely do. Having worked at the City before, I knew many of the chiefs and directors well and felt I had a pretty good understanding of those whose energy and enthusiasm for service matched mine.
I received both criticism and praise for doing so and I accepted both opinions. I listened to all. And I came into office with a mix of the old and the new and with the clear understanding that I was going to give everyone six months to show and prove.
And here we are at six months, and some of that inherited staff did just that. They showed. They proved.
And we are a better city for their work.
But during our first six months, I have also seen some opportunities for improvement.
Recently, some of you may have heard less-than-clear news reports regarding our residency policy for first responders, as related to former Assistant Chief Shawn Jones having addresses in both GA and Memphis. The topic is complex and it isn’t unreasonable that it wasn’t reported, or shared via social media, completed accurately.
Let me first say that when it comes to our first responders, there is nothing wrong with having an address outside of Memphis. Tennessee law states that officers do not have to live in the city, county, or state of their employment. Our city policy states that all first responders should be able to report for duty within 2 hours, if called. And again, that policy was never in question with Jones since he lived in an apartment in Harbor Town. We cannot force a first responder to ask their family to move or to sell a home they have equity in because they have accepted a job in Memphis. Having multiple addresses is not against policy nor is it a dereliction of duty.
Now, I also want to say - even more clearly - that I wish all of our officers could be Memphis residents and, if I am making wishes for MPD, I wish they could each have take-home cars and each of you could see that police presence in your own neighborhoods and communities. But that isn’t technically possible right now. Our recruitment efforts have to extend beyond our city’s borders and our funding levels don’t allow every officer to have a patrol car.
The residency issue was just a distraction, a false headline. Shawn Jones was not relieved of his duties due to a breach of the residency policy. I say this because I want to reduce any apprehension felt by any other officer currently living outside of the city limits. To them, I say thank you for your continued service to our city. I support you.
I believe Shawn Jones is a talented officer, but after six month, I can confidently say he wasn’t the right fit for our officers and our community - and I have released him from that position.
My decision was not based on where he or his family lived, but on input from multiple sources over the course of six months. The decision was not easy, and the timing was not optimal. But my job is to do what is right for our greater community, and creating the strongest, most aligned, and well-supported police force is what is right for Memphis.
I made this decision independently, although I communicated with Chief Davis throughout the process. I believe our current MPD leadership is unified under her direction, and I fully support her and her ability to lead.
I recognized the importance of my decisions as they relate to you. And I know that I will have to make more difficult choices on behalf of our community. Ultimately, our team works for you, and I will not accept anything less than someone’s best as we work to turn this ship and create a better Memphis.
This is my commitment to you. No one will be working at half pace or with half a heart for the job on my watch.
Because I am all in. Every day.
And I know your hearts are in, your needs are in, and your faith in the future of Memphis is all in every day.
Weekly Crime Trend
The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The date range for each 7-day period is shown below the table. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024. We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.
Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38108, 38109, 38111, 38112, 38114, 38115, 38122
Social and Community Shout-outs:
 CLOSING THE INFORMATION GAP NEWSLETTER. COUNCILWOMAN PEARL ‘EVA’ WALKER shared her inaugural newsletter this week! The newsletter aims to keep District 3 residents informed and engaged with local news, community highlights, and valuable resources. View the newsletter here.
 Free Tech Support. The Cordova Branch Public Library hosts multiple free tech support days to assist residents with operating phones, laptops, tablets, etc. See full details here.
Dumpster Days. District 3 Dumpster Day Clean-up. Saturday, July 13, from 8am-1pm at 3890 Hickory Hill Road. See full details here.
 Business Boost Bootcamp. The Office of Business Diversity and Compliance hosts FREE Business Bootcamp on Friday, July 19, from 11am-1pm at 480 Dr. MLK Jr. Avenue. See full details here.
 Supplies for Success. The Office of Youth Services hosts Supplies for Success Back to School Drive July 9-July 31. Supplies can be dropped off at any City of Memphis Community Center during business hours. See full details here.
Weekly round-up
 🌟 Weekly Round-Up: Empowering Youth and Strengthening Communities! 🌟
This week in Memphis was marked by inspiring events and initiatives:
Championing Public Safety: Mayor Young toured JIFF, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing juvenile crime by offering intervention alternatives to juvenile detention, showcasing our commitment to justice and community safety. 🚔👦
Inspiring Future Leaders 🏞️👩🏫
Promoting Environmental Awareness ♻️🌍
Fostering Small Business Growth 💼🌟
Supporting Education🎒✏️
Join us as we continue to empower our youth, build stronger communities, and create a brighter future for all Memphians! 🌟🏙️ #MemphisStrong #CommunityEngagement #ProgressTogether
See full post here
And, in case you missed it last week, please check out our "We Love Memphis!" compilation and share what you love about Memphis in the comments! Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Youtube.
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