MEMPHIS, Tenn. — We’re only six weeks into the new year, and already 30 people have been murdered in Memphis.
Each case needs investigators dedicated to finding the killers, but the Memphis Police Department is greatly understaffed, and officers are spread thin.
Overall, the department is 400 officers short.
Sources told WREG every bureau is short-staffed too.
“We have lost more police officers, as you know than we have in the last couple years,” said Mayor Jim Stickland.
The union has said ever since the city cut benefits and healthcare in 2014, officers have been leaving by the dozen.
New Director Michael Rallings is the first to admit the problem.
“I am too concerned about that. When you have a staff reduction, you’ve got to make it up someway,” said Rallings.
To make up for it officers are having to do a lot of over time.
Officers are coming in early, staying late and working on their days off.
Not to mention, it’s become a game of chess.
Sources told WREG patrol officers are offering temporary assistance in some bureaus like homicide.
Everyone is making sacrifices.
One officer put it this way: the department doesn’t want to rob Peter to pay Paul since it’s short everywhere.
“We are monitoring it. We’re definitely concerned about the safety and well-being of our officers at the same token we can’t neglect our responsibilities,” he said.
WREG went to neighborhoods that have been the center of crime this year.
Some folks said the police presence is still strong, while others call it a ticking time bomb saying officers are going to need some help soon.
“All of it is going to be affected eventually, but until the neighborhood start policing themselves it’s going to always be a problem,” said James Flagg.
WREG contacted MPD about the temporary assistance and how short the bureaus are but never heard back.