Memphis Police Department
The Memphis Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the city of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Organization. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) provides police services to the people of the city of Memphis in a 304 square-mile area with 2,081 officers. There are nine precincts in the Memphis area. The Director is appointed by the mayor and ratified by the city council. Officers are issued the SIG Sauer P229R DAK .40 S&W as the sidearm of choice. Administrative Services. Administrative Services Provides services that enable the other programs to effectively respond to service calls. It  provides security services; warrant, subpoena and property processing; radio and telephone communications; inspection of police services; and management of information and human resources. Additional functions include the reporting and recording of crimes and incidents and personnel development. Rank structure and insignia. The Memphis Police Department uses these ranks: Assistant Chief insignia is 4 stars arranged in a diamond pattern. History. The following are historical moments within the Memphis Police Department. Misconduct. In December 2013, Officer Matthew Ashmore was arrested after child pornography was found on his telephone. In September 2013, Officer Alex Beard was allowed to plead guilty to reduced  charges as a result of reckless behavior. In August 2012, while driving his official vehicle at more than ninety miles an hour without lights or siren, he struck another car, killing a woman and her daughter. Beard was sentenced to six months in jail and six years on probation, but will not serve the entire six months, since he is eligible for parole. In August 2013, Officer Vance Stacks was convicted of drunk driving and weapons charges related to a traffic accident in 2011. In July 2013, Officer Jason Webb was fired when he was charged with soliciting sex from  an underage prostitute. In June 2013, Officer Brandon Berry was charged with forcing men to have sex with him in exchange for not arresting them on outstanding warrants. In early July 2014, hundreds of policemen called in sick apparently to protest the city reducing pay by 4.6% while giving millions to private entities. On July 5, 181 called in sick. The following Monday, 550 did not come to work. In late 2014, press reports indicated that the department had eleven thousand untested rape kits on hand. In 2018, MPD was sued by the ACLU of Tennessee for violating a 1978  decree by surveilling on citizens for political purposes. White MPD Sergeant Timothy Reynolds admitted in the trial that he pretended to be a black man named "Bob Smith" on Facebook to spy on activists participating in the Black Lives Matter movement, one of them being journalist and founder of MLK50 Wendi C. Thomas. Judge Jon Phipps McCalla ruled that MPD was guilty of violating the decree. In late 2020, retired MPD homicide investigator Eric Kelly was charged with having a sexual relationship with a murder suspect. Mission. "Our purpose is to create and maintain public safety in the City of  Memphis. We do so with focused attention on preventing and reducing crime, enforcing the law, and apprehending criminals." Vision. "To create and maintain for the City of Memphis an environment of public safety recognized for its compassion and responsiveness to the needs, rights and expectations of all citizens, employees and visitors." Demographics. The following is the breakdown of the rank and file of the MPD. Distribution by race Distribution by gender Popular culture. The Investigative Services bureau is often featured in the A&E reality television series "The First 48". The department's women of the Uniform Patrol division is also  featured in the TLC reality television series "Police Women of Memphis". A fictional version of their General Assignment Bureau, is the setting for the TNT drama "Memphis Beat".