NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill filed in the state legislature would eliminate residency requirements for first responders in the state of Tennessee.
Filed by Senator Brian Kelsey on Wednesday, SB 0029 “prohibits a local government from having residency requirements as a condition for employment for a first responder.”
Kelsey said the bill will allow departments across the state to recruit the best in a time when many, such as Memphis, are struggling to meet hiring goals.
“This is a public safety bill. It will enable us to hire more police officers, which will help us fight our rising crime rates,” said Kelsey. “This bill will support our police and fire officers who keep us safe by allowing them to live where they choose.”
So far, the bill has support from several local politicians including Sen. Paul Rose (R-Covington), Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), Rep. Tom Leatherwood (R-Arlington) and Rep. John Gillespie (R- Memphis).
The Memphis Fire Fighters Association, the Memphis Police Association and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner have also given their support of the bill.
“Eliminating residency requirements provides public safety agencies with an opportunity to consider a broader selection of candidates who have a desire to serve the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County,” saidBonner. “This public safety-focused measure supports the interest of law enforcement and fire services leaders from across the state in providing safe communities for all Tennesseans.”
Currently, Memphis police officers hired after 2011 must live within Shelby County, but police officials say that’s hurting recruitment as they try to increase the number of officers.
Memphis City Council in 2019 added a ballot referendum that would have expanded the area where officers can live to within 50 miles of Memphis, but in 2020, council members voted to remove that question from the ballot.
City Council member Michalyn Easter-Thomas said at the time that she does not believe Memphis Police officers should be allowed to live up to 50 miles outside of the city, because it would push the city back economically, demographically and bureaucratically.
In 2020, Memphis recorded more than 300 homicides and spent more than $25 million in overtime pay for its officers.