MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
Calls to defund police departments have come from Black Lives Matter protesters across the nation. It means they want to take the money away from expensive public safety budgets to improve communities, yet the most recent local attempt failed.
But what does that look like? Commissioner Tami Sawyer says she’s for reallocating funds of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
“We have to stop thinking that our number one priority is criminal justice quote on quote,” said Sawyer. “Our number one priority needs to be education and youth services.”
Monday, two attempts to move money from the sheriff's office to community services failed. The first was 10% or nearly $18 million, then 5%. Sheriff Floyd Bonner said in Monday's county commission meeting, the proposed cuts would be devastating.
“To take an $18 million cut? No sir, I can not operate the jail and I cannot a lot of my law operation resources will be hindered.”
University of Memphis law professor Steven Mulroy commented that reallocating a smaller version of funds may bode over better.
“Transferring some of the assets from the police or sheriff over to community services,” said Mulroy. “I think the question there for voters will be how much.”
Mulroy says residents would likely be concerned with a lack of resources for police.
“At a certain point if you slash the budget of the police department or the sheriff’s department I think that maybe Memphians and Shelby Countians who are concerned about hampering the ability of the them to enforce the law.”
Local 24 News asked Mulroy if it’s time to revisit merging MPD into SCSO.
“I think it’s certainly something worth considering,” said Mulroy. “I’m skeptical that it has the political will here in Memphis and Shelby County to actually do it.”
Mulroy agrees today’s atmosphere would be the best time for bringing about change. He says what’s different now is that the worldwide Black Lives Matter movement has grabbed the attention of the average person.