The City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department often violate the Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against people with behavioral-health disabilities, according to the results of the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into MPD.

MPD’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers, who often respond to calls regarding mental-health crises, “use unnecessary force or mock or belittle people with behavioral-health disabilities,” according to the report. 

“There are serious problems with the CIT program in Memphis. Contrary to the goals of the Memphis Model, CIT officers often escalate encounters and use combative tactics almost immediately after arriving to behavior-health calls,” the DOJ wrote. 

The report also says that many behavioral-health calls in Memphis could be resolved without law enforcement. 

Memphis’ CIT program was started in 1988 after an officer shot and killed a man with a history of mental illness and substance abuse who was cutting himself with a knife. Memphis is recognized as a CIT pioneer and the “Memphis Model,” which aims to promote safer interactions between police and those with mental-health issues, has been adopted by police departments nationwide. Currently, 250 MPD officers are CIT-certified, according to the DOJ.

Part of MPD’s ongoing reform efforts is that all new recruits receive CIT training, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said during a Thursday, Dec. 5, press conference.

The city and the DOJ both publicly discussed results of the 17-month investigation, which were released Wednesday, Dec. 4.