"On the evening of December 4, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released the findings of its investigation into our City’s police department. This report is going to be difficult to read. Our hearts go out to any person who has been mistreated by the police. That should absolutely never happen anywhere.
While we fully support ongoing police improvement, we do not think it is wise to immediately enter into any Agreement in Principle or Consent Decree at this time. This decision stems from the belief that together we can enact more effective and meaningful changes through community engagement and collaboration rather than through a long-term Federal consent decree that may become a hindrance to our improvement efforts and a financial burden to our residents.
However, make no mistake, we are taking the DOJ’s findings seriously and will review this lengthy report with an open mind. I believe it is crucial that we take the necessary time to thoroughly review in order to formulate a response that truly addresses the needs of Memphis.
We have demonstrated our commitment to cooperating fully with the DOJ throughout this investigation, and I want to emphasize that this collaborative spirit will continue. We are focused on refining our practices and implementing meaningful change. Our dedication to improving the Memphis Police Department is unwavering, and we believe that working with local stakeholders an national experts will yield a plan that more effectively meets our community's needs than an overly bureaucratic, costly, and complicated Federal government consent decree."