Listen in THIS SUNDAY, 6PM to WLOK 1340AM. MSPJC Organizing Director, Paul Garner and MSPJC member, Reginald Johnson will be live with Cleveland Bradfield, discussing concerns that the Memphis Police Department has been labeling citizens as “hazards” without due process.
Last November, the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board sustained a complaint made by Reginald Johnson, who had called police to help another man who had been shot. Surveillance footage showed police bypass the injured man and enter Reginald’s home. He was beaten and charged him with disorderly conduct. Charges were dismissed.
According to a 2017 police dispatcher’s notes, Johnson was ‘in the hazard.” MPD admits that “hazards are placed on locations where an officer has experienced some type of incident which has been identified as a possible hazard for officers.” We contend that hazard identification put Johnson himself in danger
MPD admitted they place hazards on certain locations, but we are still in the dark about specific criteria and process for removal of this categorization from a residence. It appears that individuals are being categorized as hazards without notification or due process to appeal such a decision. This issue would be easily put to rest if MPD would release a policy outlining the process for removal from their hazard categorization.
Tune into WLOK 1340AM (and feel free to call in) this Sunday, 6PM, and in the meantime, please continue to contact Director Rallings & Mayor Jim Strickland, and tell them to remove Mr. Johnson from the hazard categorization, and release their policy outlining the criteria and process for appeal and removal of the hazard categorization! Mayor@memphistn.gov and Michael.Rallings@memphistn.gov
For more information on this issue, contact Organizing Director, Paul Garner, paul@midsouthpeace.org or (901)725-4990