Memphis City Council members want $15 million for police salaries

Members of the Memphis City Council recently announced a budget resolution that includes an allocation of $15 million for police salaries.

The total budget resolution amounts to $30 million, according to a report. Memphis City Councilman Chase Carlisle noted that the proposed $15 million would help the city to recruit and retain motivated police officers.

“If you want to be competitive, at the end of the day, it all comes down to money, full stop,” Carlisle said. “You have to be able to have the best possible compensation package if you want the best possible police officers. It’s just a fact.”

The Memphis Police Department fielded around 780,000 calls last year, and currently has a roster of 1,900 officers, according to a report. The department’s top-out pay is one of the lowest in the area, and recruitment has been a challenge, Carlisle added. Officers also face dangerous threats, including criminals equipped with high-powered weapons.

“We’re living in a world that did not exist 30 years ago, and we have to face and be real about that,” he added. “When these officers leave their house, like Geoffrey Redd did, they may not come home.” Redd was killed after being shot while responding to a trespassing call on Feb. 2.

The MPD academy currently has 115 recruits, and the department aims to increase its roster by 2,500 officers.

“Even though we have challenges right now, we have challenges around the country, we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We have some great officers. We have a great police department. We are constantly working to make our department better and more competitive,” Chief of Police Cerelyn Davis said. “It is important to make sure that we have individuals in the department that are trained to handle certain types of criminal activity.”

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