MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a January 2024 reappointment hearing, now-interim Memphis Police Department Chief Davis told city council members that she did not create the SCORPION unit in Memphis and that it existed before her arrival to the department in April 2021.
"Memphis Police Department has had criminal apprehension teams for many, many years," Davis said. "The criminal apprehension teams were in place when I came to Memphis. There was a name change. Those units existed when I got here."
"The unit continued to operate under the policy and procedure that existed. Nothing changed about the way the unit operated."
But internal documents obtained by ABC24 describing the creation of the "new" unit put it two months after MPD Assistant Chief Shawn Jones arrived in Memphis.
Assistant Chief Shawn Jones arrived to MPD in September 2021 to work alongside his former colleague of the Atlanta Police Department.
Jones left the Fulton County (GA) Sheriff's Office where he was serving as commander of the law enforcement division to join MPD.
But months before Jones left the sheriff's office, the Georgia department announced a new suppression unit dubbed - Scorpion Team.
The Fulton County Scorpion unit was renamed in March 2023 after the Jan. 10, 2023 death of Tyre Nichols.
Nichols was stopped on Jan. 7, 2023 by now-defunct MPD SCORPION Unit officers for what they said was reckless driving, ultimately being beaten by five officers. Nichols died three days later on Jan. 10, 2023. The officers have since been criminally charged in both state and federal court.
A press release after Fulton County Sheriff's Office changed the name of the unit to FAST, said it still holds the same mission as the previous Scorpion Team, describing the focus as "apprehending violent criminals, and reducing gang-related crimes."
A story from RoughDraft Atlanta said that when Scorpion was announced in Fulton County, it was a crime suppression team that was to "defend those who live, work and play in Fulton County against violent criminals who threaten public safety."
The bulletin obtained by ABC24, dated November 12, 2021, reads "Effective Friday, November 12, 2021, The Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods Unit (SCORPION) will begin operations. Scorpion unit is a newly formed unit within the Memphis Police Department."
"These teams will be deployed city wide to address Violent Crimes such as homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies and carjackings occurring throughout Memphis."
In November 2021, Jones held a media briefing the day SCORPION was rolled out publicly in Memphis.
"It's important to us that each member of the community feels they can go to the grocery store or live in their house without their house being shot or shooting frequently occurring on the streets and on the roadways,” Jones said at the time.
The document is in direct conflict with Davis's statement to Memphis City Council members saying the unit existed before she arrived and that there was simply a name change.
The bulletin also states that the unit will focus on violent crimes and other felony offenses.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office officials said Jones did not have any part in creating the formerly named Scorpion team in Georgia. MPD did not answer questions sent by ABC24, saying, "As a matter of practice, we do not comment on subjects where there is ongoing litigation."
Earlier this week, MPD confirmed reporting by ABC24 that Jones's primary residence was still in Fulton County, Georgia.
Jones is still actively voting in the state of Georgia despite serving as the second-in-command of the Memphis Police Department for nearly three years earning roughly $177,000.
Jones voted twice in 2024, most recently on May 21, 2024 in the Georgia general primary election with an early voting in-person ballot, according to Georgia voting records.
MPD officials did send a statement earlier in the week confirming Jones residency is still in the state of Georgia, but that Tennessee state law does not permit restrictions on the residency of first responders.
In March 2022, Gov. Bill Lee signed a senate bill that would allow commissioned officers to reside outside of Shelby County, but those who reside outside of the county must be able to report to work within two hours of notification, per MPD policy.
City of Memphis officials have yet to respond to ABC24's questions regarding Jones.