memphis cop talks shop

 

We met at the Flying Fish in Memphis. (If you don't know it, look it up!) It was only because Ping wanted to take a picture with the tall, handsome policeman, but he and I became FB friends. I won't tell you his name, because he doesn't want his name or photo circulated on social media, to protect his family.

  I kept thinking about him, when recent events in Memphis were front and center in the news. So I texted him to find out how he was feeling—I mean talk about intersectional. And once a journalist. . . He called me on the phone.

   "I'm disgusted," he said. "That Scorpion Unit? They put that team together with a bunch of young officers, not seasoned officers. A bunch of young people hotdogging. It was like a big game to them. I mean, even with criminals, life becomes like a video game. You know Grand Theft Auto? A lot of these young guys live in an alternate universe. 

   "So much went wrong. I think the department let down those officers. Too many young hotheads. Stuff can go south real quick. For you to get five guys together, and they all went along and didn't see anything wrong—that's a deep problem. You didn't have to deliver one blow, if you're on the spot it puts you right in the same pot. 

   "I couldn't watch the whole video. I was emotionally torn up. A lot of officers lost faith in the department."

   As for the blowback, his days off have been canceled, and the officers are doubled up in the car. After 15 years on the force, he doesn't feel threatened.

   "A lot of officers have been assigned to the same areas forever. Even before this happened, a lot of the people, I trust them more than the officers. I look out for them, and they start to look out for you. I run into people that just want to vent—I'll let 'em do it. Really not much backlash here, not like other places.

   "Outside protestors showed up here, and there were thousands when they came. Once they left all the gas went out. After that they probably had a hundred people. We monitor. We have a pretty seasoned police department. We'll wait and see.

   "Memphis is the epicenter of foolishness—even before this. It's crazy right now."