Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis became the new leader of the Memphis Police Department Tuesday, May 4, in a council vote that was almost unanimous.

Vern Braswell, a former elementary school principal, has been in prison for 16 years after being convicted of killing his wife. New evidence has surfaced that his supporters hope is enough to get him released or a new trial. 

As Durham Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis awaits confirmation from the Memphis City Council as the new leader of MPD, city leaders, former colleagues and activists from her past weigh in on her law enforcement career. 

Memphis Police Chief nominee Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis met the public on a limited basis Friday, April 30, during a one-hour online Q&A session with screened written questions. 

The judge deserves to be remembered as one of the most consequential public figures in Memphis during the second half of the 20th century, says Otis Sanford.

Property crimes dropped during the first three months of 2021, according to data from the Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission and the Public Safety Institute.

It’s the first time the town has awarded the honor in more than 25 years. 

The federal class action lawsuit was filed in 2016, a month after a new computer system was installed by the county to track the movement of pre-trial detainees through the criminal justice system. 

She shot at officer during a traffic stop, police allege.

Former Memphis lawyer George Skouteris Jr. faces a maximum sentence of 30 years and a fine of $1 million and five years supervised release. 

Leaders behind the walk are enthused by the strong community support during the first two events in Downtown Memphis and Whitehaven.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday it was investigating “the circumstances leading to a possible officer-involved shooting.”

In a recent interview, Memphis’ nominee for police chief talked about officer training, violence intervention, and why she initially pulled her application from the city’s search for a new head of police. 

Local activists shed tears of joy after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd. 

Related story:

Ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges

The jury reached its verdict on the George Floyd case Tuesday after deliberating about 10 hours over two days in a city on edge against another outbreak of unrest.

Related story:

Local activists react with tears of joy to guilty verdict in Minneapolis trial

Cerelyn ‘C.J.’ Davis, chief of police in Durham, North Carolina, has been named to head the Memphis Police Department, becoming the first woman to lead the agency in its 194-year history.

Although Memphis has long battled perceptions (and reality) about its crime rate, community leaders say it’s not as much of a factor in economic recruitment efforts as one might expect.

Crime impacts neighborhoods across the city. From Frayser to Whitehaven, community leaders discuss how to address the problem and the causes that contribute to it.

Yolanda Johnson, who has been in the nail industry for 21 years, plans to open a school to help former ex-felons train to be entrepreneurs and start their own nail salons like she did.

The COVID-19 jail lawsuit has been settled but a recent jail inspection still found some issues at the facility at 201 Poplar. 

Lawsuit alleged Shelby County failed to address the spread of the coronavirus, putting medically vulnerable and disabled detainees at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Memphis Police Lt. Israel Taylor has been patrolling the streets of Memphis for 27 years. During a night on the streets, he discussed everything from the record-breaking number of homicides in Memphis last year to why he became an officer and remains on the job. 

Last year’s record 332 homicides in Memphis have taken a toll on those involved, from community activists to grieving parents to experts who struggle to come up with solutions to stem the violence.