MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It will be three more months until the City of Memphis could have an updated ordinance for CLERB, the Citizen Law Enforcement Review Board.
The board is in charge of looking into citizen allegations against police. Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong requested the delay of a vote on the ordinance Tuesday to respect murdered police officer Sean Bolton.
However, some council members said the delay was politics. The vote is now after the October election, which had some saying this is an election-year move.
“For council members to allow it to get to the table and pull a stunt like that was very disappointing,” Councilwoman Wanda Halbert said.
Halbert said she is frustrated. As the sponsor of CLERB, she has worked with multiple groups, including the police department, the City Council, Mid-South United and the Mayor’s Office, to create an updated ordinance.
That’s why when there was backlash against it Tuesday, she was surprised and thinks some might be against it altogether.
“I think your vote tonight is going to send a message to men and women who serve and keep this city safe where the City Council stands,” Councilman Kemp Conrad said Tuesday.
Conrad gave a presentation showing a Facebook page of a CLERB proponent. He said the page had anti-police rhetoric.
Shortly after, Armstrong asked the council to delay the vote.
“I just felt that it was inappropriate at this time with everything that we’ve been going through this week, and out of respect, I just didn’t feel it was appropriate at this time to be going back and forth about police oversight,” he said.
Halbert said she respected the want to wait and wanted the vote in September. However, the vote was rescheduled for November, something council member Berlin Boyd requested.
“From my standpoint, I wanted to show our officers that someone is actually listening,” Boyd said.
Boyd said he thought the time period was appropriate to respect officers and won’t affect the election.
“I think the general public does not have a say to say that if you vote for CLERB than I’m against you as being my representative, if you vote against CLERB I’m for you,” he said.
Boyd said the way he sees things, the Council doesn’t need to vote on the ordinance; only the mayor’s office needs to approve it.
“They’re just making some improvements to the existing ordinance everyone agreed on.”
When the council votes on CLERB, although it will be after the October election, it will still be the current council members voting. They are in office until the end of the year.
