Image: Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis Image Credit: memphispolice.org
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Memphis Police and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office met with state lawmakers on Tuesday to talk about concerns they want to see considered in the upcoming legislative session.
A recent uptick in crime across the city is pushing law enforcement officers to seek harsher penalties for crimes to help curb the increasing numbers. Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis noted that 13,000 cars stolen so far this year, and they are averaging a homicide per day.
During the two-day retreat held at the University of Memphis, both agencies brought up similar issues.
Davis submitted a proposal to the Tennessee General Assembly’s Shelby County Legislative Delegation, requesting that they increase the penalty for committing violent crimes such as carjacking, murder, aggravated assault, robbery and rape while wearing a mask.
“It helps us to solve crimes a whole lot faster when people are discouraged from putting masks and things on,” Chief Davis said. “They can commit a crime and hide their identity.”
State Representative Karen Camper (D-Memphis-District 87), though, stated that she felt that this could cause confusion.
Chief Davis also asked for harsher penalties for anyone who is guilty of drag racing or reckless driving. Her suggestion included the guilty party losing his or her car for a certain period of time.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking legislation that would suspend the driver’s license of anyone who runs from law enforcement.
“If you willfully flee, which is a felony, then this would give us another ability to hold you accountable with a different charge,” says Lt. Joseph Fox.
Representative Camper said she is in full support of Chief Davis’s proposal to create a Juvenile Justice task force.
Camper noted that while she may disagree with some of the proposed legislation that would increase certain sentences, she appreciated the session held with law enforcement, giving them the opportunity to brainstorm and provide input before the upcoming January session.
