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Will meaningful changes with how the Memphis Police Department interacts with citizens take place?

Protest organizers promised a seat at the table with Memphis mayor and police director

MEMPHIS, Tennessee —

In Wednesday's Ransom Note: It's time to talk.

That's exactly how I started Tuesday night’s Ransom Note, and I'm so glad the Memphis mayor and police director agree.

The protests are powerful and keep the pressure on, and as long as they're peaceful, they're an important way to vent. But, at some point, both sides need to sit down face to face and meet with a genuine goal to make things better.

Tonight the mayor showed up at "I am a Man Plaza" and promised concrete change. I hope he means it, because this is a real opportunity for Memphis.

I still remember a story I did years ago in Camden, New Jersey. The city had had the highest murder and violent crime rate in the country but was seeing incredible 20-40 percent drops, depending on the crime.

Officers swarmed the high crime areas, in some cases every street corner, but they weren't militaristic at all. Instead they built meaningful, trusting relationships with neighbors, and what they discovered is most neighbors wanted the crime to drop more than police did. I hope something like that can happen here.

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