Following Sunday night’s protest in downtown Memphis, which saw the I-40 bridge blocked by protesters for hours, there are now calls across social media, and by local groups, for Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland to name Mike Rallings as the permanent MPD Director.
Rev. Keith Norman, the president of the Memphis branch of the NAACP, released this statement:
“The Memphis Branch of the NAACP wishes to express gratitude to the men and women of The Memphis Police Department and the partner branches of law enforcement for exercising restraint under extreme pressure during last night’s peaceful protest. We further call on Mayor Strickland to use his executive authority to suspend the national search for a police director and appointment Director Michael Rallings effective July 11, 2016. Director Rallings has demonstrated tremendous calm and intestinal fortitude at a very critical time in our city and a break in leadership at this point would be counterproductive to the good will that we will gain after last night.”
However, Fox Meadows Community Activist Patricia A. Rogers stated:
“It is my opinion that the president of the NAACP should not be putting “community pressure” on Mayor Strickland to hire the interim Director Michael Rallings. Although I think the interim director did a magnificent job to help diffuse the anger and frustration last night during the protest, I don’t think the interim director would even want the job as the MPD director – unless the mayor wants him to be the director.
Moreover, I think the meeting with the protesters tonight is of upmost importance at this time to address their issues with the mayor and the interim director.”
Johnnie Mosley, Founder/Chairman of the group “Citizens For Better Service,” released this statement:
“Please note that Citizens For Better Service, an advocacy group for bus riders since 1993, join the people of goodwill in Memphis in the calling upon Mayor Strickland to name Interim Police Director Mike Rallings the permanent police director. As far as we are concerned he further proved last night why he should be the person in charge of the department. Interim Police Director performed a miracle last night and he has earned not only the title of permanent director but respect of many citizens around the City of Memphis and the nation. Memphis is a blessed city to have Director Rallings.”
During a news conference Monday morning, Mayor Strickland responded to the calls to name Rallings the permanent MPD director.
“Mike Rallings did a fantastic job last night,” said Strickland. “And I hope people see why I asked him to apply for the full-time job. We are near the end of the hiring process and I plan to follow that process.”
