Residents press council for police accountability, call for chief’s resignation after DOJ findings
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Summary
Public commenters at the Jan. 13 Memphis City Council meeting urged formal accountability following a Department of Justice report, alleging police misconduct, failures to collect evidence and internal affairs monitoring; one speaker called for Police Chief C.J. Davis to resign.
Several Memphis residents used the council’s public-comment period on Jan. 13 to demand accountability from the city and the Memphis Police Department following the Justice Department’s findings and to request documented responses and investigations.
Ewena Philly, who identified herself as a civil-rights activist and a pro se litigant against the city, said DOJ recommendations grounded in community testimony had not been implemented and demanded a documented response, a formal investigation, public timelines and a public apology before reforms could proceed. "Before reform can move forward, there must be acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The city owes this community a public apology," she said.
Willie Gordon described an October burglary at his home and alleged that responding officers initially refused to take a burglary report, declined to collect DNA evidence and that his interactions with officers included what he described as evidence that body cameras were turned off. The chair told Gordon MPD would follow up on his concern and that the council had his contact information.
Damon Curry Morris described having recorded an internal affairs lieutenant and alleged that internal affairs monitored his social media, and he said the community would seek the resignation of Police Chief C.J. Davis if accountability was not forthcoming. "We're gonna draft the letter, and we need to ask for the resignation of police chief CJ Davis," Morris said. Morris also described personal trauma and ongoing safety fears tied to those allegations.
Council staff acknowledged receipt of cards and contact information and said MPD would follow up with the individual complainants. The comments recorded community frustration with the pace and transparency of responses to DOJ recommendations and called for specific public timelines and documentation.
Next steps: Council did not take a formal vote on policy in response during this meeting; staff indicated MPD would follow up with individual complainants.