MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Day in and day out, Memphis police officers are thrust into all kinds of situations, and a lot of them are dangerous. Officers encounter people who are law abiders and law breakers, and not every arrest they make is peaceful. That being said, some officers at times get a little too aggressive and end up using excessive force when detaining citizens or executing arrests. Too often, confirmed instances of excessive force are swept under the rug by police officials. Hopefully, that is about to change.
A series of stories in recent weeks by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis and The Daily Memphian have exposed repeated instances of brutality by police. As a result, District Attorney Amy Weirich has asked police brass to refer all confirmed cases of abuse to her office for review. The review will determine if any of the cases warrant criminal charges.
Of course, it’s unlikely that most of them will. But it’s a significant development and should be seen as part of the ongoing effort toward reforms in policing. So here’s hoping that MPD complies with Weirich’s request.
Yes, some inside and outside the department won’t like it. They no doubt believe this is just one attempt to demonize police and protect the criminals. But abusive officers must be held accountable, and Weirich is absolutely right - this is all about public trust. And that’s my point of view.