Abbreviation MPD Annual budget $230 million | Formed 1827 | |
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Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* City of Memphis in the state of Tennessee, USA |
The Memphis Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the City of Memphis, Tennessee.
Contents
Organization
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) provides police services to the people of Memphis in a 315 square-mile area with 2,142 officers. There are nine precincts in the Memphis area. The Director is appointed by the mayor and ratified by the city council.
Administrative Services
Provides services that enable the other programs to effectively respond to service calls. It provides security services; warrant, subpoena and property processing; radio and telephone communications; inspection of police services; and management of information and human resources. Additional functions include the reporting and recording of crimes and incidents and personnel development.
Investigative Services
Uniform Patrol
Rank structure and insignia
The Memphis Police Department uses these sworn personnel ranks:
History
The following are historical moments within the Memphis Police Department.
Misconduct
In December 2013, Officer Matthew Ashmore was arrested after child pornography was found on his telephone.
In September 2013, Officer Alex Beard was allowed to plead guilty to reduced charges as a result of reckless behavior. In August 2012, while driving his official vehicle at more than ninety miles an hour without lights or siren, he struck another car, killing a woman and her daughter. Beard was sentenced to six months in jail and six years on probation, but will not serve the entire six months, since he is eligible for parole.
In August 2013, Officer Vance Stacks was convicted of drunk driving and weapons charges related to a traffic accident in 2011.
In July 2013, Officer Jason Webb was fired when he was charged with soliciting sex from an underage prostitute.
In June 2013, Officer Brandon Berry was charged with forcing men to have sex with him in exchange for not arresting them on outstanding warrants.
In early July 2014, hundreds of policemen called in sick apparently to protest increased employee contributions to their health care plans. On July 5, 181 called in sick. The following Monday, 308 did not come to work.
In late 2014, press reports indicated that the department had eleven thousand untested rape kits on hand.
Mission
"Our purpose is to create and maintain public safety in the City of Memphis. We do so with focused attention on preventing and reducing crime, enforcing the law, and apprehending criminals."
Vision
"To create and maintain for the City of Memphis an environment of public safety recognized for its compassion and responsiveness to the needs, rights and expectations of all citizens, employees and visitors."
Demographics
The following is the breakdown of the rank and file of the MPD.
Distribution by race
Distribution by gender
Popular culture
The Investigative Services bureau is often featured in the A&E reality television series The First 48.
The department's women of the Uniform Patrol division is also featured in the TLC reality television series Police Women of Memphis.
A fictional version of their General Assignment Bureau, is the setting for the TNT drama Memphis Beat.