Otis Sanford
Sanford: Chapman’s retirement a reminder of his enormous impact on public safety
Buddy Chapman, 83, is calling it all quits. He will step down as the leader and face of CrimeStoppers effective April 1.
Otis Sanford
Columnist
Otis Sanford holds the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis. Contact him at 901-678-3669 or at o.sanford@memphis.edu. Follow him on Twitter @otissanford.
There are 209 articles by Otis Sanford :
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March 2023
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Sanford: Chicago police leader’s outrage is righteous
Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, who is African American, seemed to channel the sentiments of millions of Americans who know that hate crimes are real. They are disgusted by the idea that someone would lie about being a victim.
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Otis SanfordSanford: This heartbroken Ja Morant fan is hopeful for an all-star comeback
Memphis needs a feel-good story, a redemption story, of overcoming stumbles, our pain and our negative national image. We need Ja Morant to bring his moves back to the Grindhouse soon and break ankles — not hearts.
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February 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: Deadly violence by an out-of-towner only adds to our city’s woes
“Let’s pay tribute to one of the good ones who, by losing his life, reminded us again how dangerous policing can be.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Service for Tyre Nichols drives home need for meaningful police reform
During the Tyre Nichols funeral, the forceful messages from the pulpit and soul-stirring music from the choir celebrated Nichols’ life, but the service also became a spark for a renewed call for police reform — locally and nationally.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Family of Tyre Nichols deserves justice for a fun-loving son
Memphians, who already feel beleaguered by violent crime that at times seems out of control, must now come to grips with the fact that elements within the police department — however small — are partakers of criminal violence themselves.
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January 2023
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Otis Sanford District 86 election marked by generational divide: The TikTok era vs. the Walkman age
Voters who show up for the District 86 race could serve as a bellwether for whether Memphians are ready to elect a new generation of political leaders or if they are content to stick with familiar names who have been around local politics and government for decades.
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December 2022
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Otis SanfordSanford: Litterbugs are hurting our legacy as a beautiful city
For the sake of all of us who believe cleanliness is indeed next to godliness, let’s make a commitment in the new year to support the cleanup efforts in Memphis.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Legal argument aside, the link between an unsolved rape and Eliza Fletcher’s murder is clear
Barring some technicality in the law, there is nothing complicated about whether there is a link between Alicia Franklin’s rape and Eliza Fletcher’s murder.
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Otis SanfordSanford: My journalism class studied the Supreme Court. The findings are not pretty
“Far too many college students — and older adults, for that matter — know little, if anything, about the Court, its history, its unfettered power, who’s on it and how they got there.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: My big brother Louis’ courage, influence and love will never be forgotten
“Louis had such a dominant influence on my life – perhaps even more than my parents. And I always wanted to be just like him.”
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November 2022
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Otis SanfordSanford: Renaming VA Medical Center for Luke Weathers appropriate honor
“And there is no Memphian, past or present, more deserving of the recognition. Weathers’ story is one of resilience, courage, perseverance and heroism.”
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Two words best describe Lee’s impressive reelection victory — BlueOval City
In Tennessee, it was GOP business as usual following Tuesday’s midterm election. The legislature remains under total control by Republicans and Gov. Bill Lee cruised to reelection without breaking a sweat.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: If colleges can consider family legacy in admissions, why not race?
Diversity in many forms should be a compelling societal interest. And race should be one of several factors used in making hiring decisions.
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October 2022
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Brent Taylor’s ‘radical left’ ad belies his reputation as a conciliator
“With all that cash and goodwill going for him, Taylor could easily take the high road, the 100% positive road, to a smooth Election Day victory.”
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Otis Sanford Sanford: With reelection all but assured, is higher office possible for Gov. Lee?
Recent speculation has focused on Gov. Bill Lee being a possible national candidate for elected office in the future — if not in 2024, then in 2028.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: GOP leaders pushing hard for ‘right to work’ amendment, but are unions really that bad?
“I’ve witnessed shameless corporate greed and blatant union nepotism. And on balance, I believe the positives of organized labor outweigh the negatives.”
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Capitol rioter from Millington isn’t only one conned by persuader-in-chief
“At least Sandlin and others who stormed the Capitol are now admitting their wrongs and are facing the consequences. I’m still waiting for the deniers holding elected office to come to their senses.”
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Otis Sanford Sanford: 60 years after integration of Ole Miss, this Black graduate comes full circle
At a time when politicians are doing their darnedest to run away from our racial history by censoring it in schools, Ole Miss deserves accolades for treating the 60th anniversary of James Meredith’s enrollment with the pomp and circumstance that it deserves.
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September 2022
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Otis Sanford Sanford: For next year’s crucial city election, only serious candidates need apply
While the November midterm election is shaping up to be a real snoozer locally, the Memphis mayoral election on Oct. 5, 2023, is fast becoming the most consequential mayoral race in more than 30 years.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Fighting crime requires real solutions, not political grandstanding and finger-pointing
Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, MPD and the TBI all share the responsibility for our failure to reduce local crime. But their responses in the aftermath of an incredibly tragic week are not good enough.
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Opinion Sanford: A caring lawyer, a ruthless youth offender and, 22 years later, a heartbreaking homicide
One was an attorney who used the law to make a positive difference in society. The other was a gun-wielding juvenile delinquent. Their paths crossed on the evening of May 25, 2000, and now, 22 years later, it serves as an eerie backstory to the tragic kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher.
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August 2022
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Otis Sanford Sanford: As Sugarmon assumes Juvenile Court judgeship, a different history begins
Tarik Sugarmon ushers in a new era for Juvenile Court in Memphis and Shelby County.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Credibility expired — Halbert no longer capable of running clerk’s office
“But at some point, every adult needs something from the county clerk. And what we need most now is efficiency — something Halbert promised when she ran for mayor in 2009 but is clearly incapable of delivering.”
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OpinionSanford: GOP dominance in Tennessee sprouted in ’94, accelerated in ’08
“Many rural Tennesseans will no doubt argue, as Ronald Reagan did in 1962, that they did not leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left them. I respectfully disagree.”
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