The Memphis Police Department (MPD) has been involved in a number of controversial actions in recent years, including:
* The death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man who died after being beaten by five MPD officers in January 2023. The officers involved in Nichols' death have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, and official oppression.
* The shooting death of Justin Thompson, a 23-year-old black man who was shot by an MPD officer in July 2021. The officer involved in Thompson's death was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office.
* The arrest of Marcus Hooker, a 23-year-old black man who was arrested in August 2020 after he was seen with a gun in a park. Hooker was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm. The charges were later dropped.
* The use of excessive force by MPD officers during protests over the death of George Floyd in May 2020. Several people were arrested and injured during the protests.
These incidents have led to widespread criticism of the MPD and calls for reform. In response, the MPD has implemented a number of changes, including:
* Requiring all officers to wear body cameras
* Implementing a new use-of-force policy
* Increasing training for officers on implicit bias and de-escalation techniques
* Creating a new civilian review board to investigate complaints against officers
Despite these changes, the MPD continues to face criticism from some members of the community, who believe that the department has not done enough to address its problems.
