CIVIC CRISIS - CIVIC CHALLENGE - POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN MEMPHIS (TN)

• NCJ Number: 53097
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 140 pages
• Corporate Author: US Cmssn on Civil Rights
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT DEALS WITH CITY AND POLICE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT AFFECT POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN MEMPHIS, TENN., THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE ON POLICE TREATMENT OF CITIZENS, AND POLICE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.

Abstract

DATA FOR THE REPORT, SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS, ARE BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED DURING A 20-MONTH INVESTIGATION BY THE TENNESSEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT SEVERAL PROBLEMS IN MEMPHIS HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON CERTAIN GROUPS, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY MUST ADDRESS ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. GEOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION OF WHITE AND BLACK COMMUNITIES IN MEMPHIS AND THE LARGE AND DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FACT THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY ARE GENERALLY POOR. RECALCITRANCE AND INDIFFERENCE ON THE PART OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERS OFTEN ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMMUNITY IN EXERCISING ITS CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE. THE IMPACT OF POOR POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IS EXHIBITED IN RACE RELATIONS, CITIZEN COOPERATION, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S IMAGE, AND THE COMMUNITY'S IMAGE. THE IMPROVEMENT OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN THE CITY REQUIRES COMMUNITY RELATIONS TRAINING AND EFFORTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE CITY MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REVIEW ASPECTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT, THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE, AND FEDERAL FUNDING AGENCIES AND THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS RESPONSIBILITIES ARE EXAMINED. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE OFFERED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CITY AND POLICE PRACTICES IN MEMPHIS IS CONTAINED IN APPENDIXES AND EXHIBITS. (DEP)