TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jan 10, 2024

The U.S. Justice Department is issuing new guidance to police to ensure more care and accountability in specialized law enforcement teams like the Memphis Police Department's (MPD) SCORPION unit. NPR reports that one year after Tyre Nichols' death, federal officials are calling for mayors and police chiefs to assess whether specialized units are necessary to solve community problems, to take care that members assigned to such units have clean work and disciplinary histories, and to ensure that members are properly supervised. In related news, a Memphis City Council committee Tuesday split 7-6 in a non-binding vote calling for the replacement of MPD Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis. New Memphis Mayor Paul Young has stated publicly that he supports Davis' reappointment, but acknowledged that he would make a change if she does not produce the results the city needs.