MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Citizens speak out against Memphis Police to the City Council.
During a meeting on Tuesday, they held up cardboard cutouts of teeth.
They said they wanted CLERB to have teeth to investigate police complaints.
“Your constituents want police to be supervised by civilians.”
One by one citizens told the City Council they didn’t trust Memphis Police or Internal Affairs to properly handle complaints.
“What they did to me and my family was unjust and was not right,” said one person.
“Let this group have the power it needs to protect each and every one of us,” said another.
Memphis’ top cop Michael Rawlings sat listening to his men and women being called a street gang.
He said he knows just as many people who can praise these police officers.
“Everyone keep talking about police accountability. We bought body cameras. Police bought body cameras. CLERB didn’t buy body cameras, we bought them,” he said.
CLERB, the group of citizens empowered to review cases of police complaints, is worried a proposed change in city rules would take away their power.
“The folks represent 200 people that have their cases reviewed by Internal and referred to CLERB. They deserve justice,” said Paul Garner.
They said they want control to fully investigate claims including having City Council subpoena on their behalf.
Rawlings agreed to meet with CLERB and help come up with a solution but said the process is working as it is.
“The one case they heard this year, they sustained what IAB found. Lets let the process work.”