This is the start of a new weekly series bringing readers public safety information from around the Mid-South including updates on prominent court cases and details from inside law enforcement agencies. This column is being offered free for the first few weeks before it becomes available to subscribers only. If you'd like to subscribe now, you can do so by clicking here.
As the City of Memphis worked to pass its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Memphis Police Department interim Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis took about a 12% cut to her salary.
As the city passed its budget, including Davis' pay cut, one of Memphis' own lieutenant colonels was on the West Coast to speak with Spokane, Washington residents about becoming their next chief of police.
With one police officer possibly moving to lead a department in another state, the Bluff City has also attracted the outgoing police chief from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to lead the Memphis International Airport's police force.
And, just south of the Tennessee state line, the man believed to have plotted Young Dolph's killing in 2021 was arrested for what the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said was a "preexisting warrant."
Memphis police lieutenant colonel named finalist for chief job in Spokane
Memphis Police Department Lt. Col. Kathleen Lanier has been named as one of four finalists to be the next chief of police for the Spokane Police Department, in Washington state, The Spokesman-Review reported June 20 and the City of Spokane later confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.
Lanier has been with MPD for nearly 35 years, from patrolwoman to her current rank as Lt. Colonel. In 2020, as former Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings was making his way out of MPD's top position, she put her name into consideration to be the next police chief.
A public forum was hosted at one of the Spokane public libraries June 27, with all four candidates taking questions from residents. The other three candidates are Tuscon, Arizona Police Assistant Chief Kevin Hall, Yakima, Washington Police Chief Matthew Murray and Dalles, Oregon Police Chief Tom Worthy, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Memphis police chief has salary cut as city passes budget
Davis had her salary cut Tuesday night as the city passed its $858 million budget, though she will remain the top-paid city employee, alongside Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat.
Last year, according to the Daily Memphian, Davis was given a $50,000 raise when raises were given to officers with the police department. That raise — placing her salary at $280,862.14 — made her one of the highest-paid police chiefs in the country, exceeding her peers in Nashville and St. Louis. She also made more than the New York City police commissioner and Chicago police superintendent.
Davis' new salary will be $246,370.46, marking a 12.3% decrease in her pay.
The salary cut came in a resolution that altered a number of city leadership salaries and was introduced by Council Chairman JB Smiley, Jr. and Councilman Ford Canale Tuesday night. The city's chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, chief communications officer, chief of staff, parks director and public works director were a few of the positions that saw salary changes.
Under the City of Memphis charter, the city council has the ability to "determine the salaries of charter officers, chiefs and directors during the approval of the budget annually."
Man believed to have plotted Young Dolph shooting arrested in DeSoto County
Hernandez Govan, the man prosecutors say was responsible for planning Young Dolph's fatal shooting in 2021, was arrested in DeSoto County June 23, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department confirmed to The CA.
Govan has been out on bail since May 2023 due to declining health, when a judge allowed his bail to be lowered, and was placed under "alternative restriction and supervision" until his trial. He has been reprimanded for violations of his bail conditions, including traveling from his home to go shopping and missing a court date.
The Shelby County District Attorney's office said it was made aware of Govan's arrest Monday night, and that it relates to a preexisting warrant. The DA's office said it is "looking into the circ*mstances of the arrest" and that it plans to make the court aware of the arrest.
According to the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department, the warrant for Govan's arrest was issued in 2019. The "media summary report," given to The CA by DCSD, listed the offense as "stalking, repeatedly following, harassing or making threats" to someone in Olive Branch.
That warrant was served when Govan was arrested by the Southaven Police Department Sunday, said Tish Clark, a public information officer with the sheriff's department.
WREG News Channel 3 reported Monday night that Govan was also charged with driving with a suspended license and having an improperly mounted license tag.
He was given a $2,250 bond, which he posted, according to the WREG report.
Memphis International Airport hires new chief of police
The Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority Tuesday announced it was bringing on James "Wes" Blair to be its next police chief. He will replace Jerry Brandon, who the airport authority said is retiring in the fall.
Blair comes to Memphis after a law enforcement career spanning 30 years, and that took him across the country. His career, the airport authority said in a press release, began in California as a U.S. border patrol agent and he spent the last 11 years in Cape Girardeau as chief of police.
"Wes Blair comes to Memphis International Airport with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement. His education, tenure of service, and commitment to public safety speaks for itself. I am confident that he will be a great asset to us and serve in a vital role as we continue to prioritize safety," said Terry Blue, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority president and CEO, in the press release. "We are also very grateful to Chief Jerry Brandon, who has served the Airport Authority, and his country prior to that, with honor and distinction."
Blair will begin his new role with the airport Aug. 12, overseeing about 3,900 acres of land that includes not just the airport terminals, but also businesses, roads, runways and other facilities in the area.
"As the new police chief at Memphis International Airport, I am excited to join a dynamic team dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of travelers and staff," Blair said in the release. "I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to uphold the highest standard of law enforcement, collaborating with airport stakeholders to implement innovative strategies, and fostering a culture of professionalism within the organization. Together, we will continue to safeguard the airport community and uphold public trust in our services."
Top Commercial Appeal courts, public safety stories readers have viewed
- From June 14, 2024: House Speaker Cameron Sexton seeks removal of Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy
- From June 25, 2024: Youth Villages: Teen who died after altercation died from restraint, asthma complications
- From June 17, 2024: Shelby County DA drops plans for diversion program after threats to remove him from office
- From June 27, 2024: 'Positional asphyxia' may have contributed to teen's death after Memphis Youth Villages incident
- From March 25, 2020: Woman found dead at Horseshoe Lake, where mother was killed 24 years earlier
- From Oct. 11, 2020: 'Back to basics': MPD Lt. Colonel says officers need to spend more time in the community and it's time for a woman to lead MPD
- From June 18, 2024: Shelby County judge dismisses ouster petition against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert
- From June 11, 2024: MPD arrests 12 in operation targeting Memphis gang, firearms and drugs seized
The latest in Memphis' biggest cases
None of the major cases that have attracted the attention of Memphians were in state court over the last week, though three are making their way toward trial.
- Eduard Rodriguez Tabora, one of the men accused of killing the Rev. Autura Eason Williams in June 2022, is set to go on trial on Sep. 30.
- Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, the two men accused of carrying out Young Dolph's fatal shooting, are set for trial on Sep. 23.
- Cleotha Abston's murder trial, in which he is accused of abducting and killing Memphis teacher and runner Eliza Fletcher, is set for trial on Feb. 10.
A flurry of new filings, containing arguments over the former Memphis police officers' efforts to dismiss the indictment against them, have been filed in the Tyre Nichols federal criminal case. The filings come as the case nears its Aug. 5 pretrial conference, with trial set to begin just over a month later.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant's legal fight with a teenager, who sued him after Morant and his long-time friend Davonte Pack punched the teen, is continuing after a new attorney was retained by the teen. Two dates are currently scheduled in that case. A status conference is set for Aug. 23 and a pretrial conference is set for Oct. 3.
A court date to argue whether over 70 Memphis police officers will be allowed to join in a lawsuit between the police union and MPD pushed back. The city, which represents the department in legal proceedings, responded to the officers' motion to join the lawsuit and argued that they should not be allowed to join the lawsuit.
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