ABOUT MEMPHIS POLICE CHIEF CERELYN “CJ” DAVIS

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis has over 35 years of experience in the law enforcement profession. Being focused on holistic interagency wraparound services and transformational policing for crime reduction, Davis’ research-driven work is strongly influenced by the practical application of the latest tools in technology, predictive policing, leadership development, and all-important community engagement.

She began her career with the City of Atlanta Police Department where she learned the importance of forging relationships with Atlanta’s diverse community. She was assigned to a variety of specialized assignments as a young patrol officer and quickly moved through the ranks working as an Investigator in Licenses & Permits, supervisor in Background & Recruitment, Special Victims, Executive Officer to the Chief, Public Affairs, Homeland Security & Organized Crime. As a Commander, she led the Special Operations Section, which included SWAT, Mounted Patrol, Motors, Helicopter Unit, Vice & Narcotics, REDDOG Unit, all Federal Task Force Officers, HIDTA Task Force, Cyber Crimes, Gangs & Guns, and the Surveillance Unit. In addition, she was the Internal Affairs Commander, Airport Section Asst. Commander, and served on Executive Loan as a Project Manager to the Mayor’s Office. After her promotion to Deputy Chief, she led the Strategies & Special Projects Division, overseeing the Department’s new Video Integration Center (VIC), a real-time crime center where she ensured more than 3000 public and private sector cameras were included in the citywide network. Also, under her leadership were Planning & Research, Accreditation (CALEA), the Atlanta Police Leadership Institute (APLI), capital projects, facility improvements, and more. Davis retired in June 2016 to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Durham, NC.

As the Chief of Police, Davis made great strides towards improving the Durham Police Department’s outreach and crime reduction efforts by building trust between citizens and law enforcement and fostering sustainable partnerships with key stakeholders.

In April of 2021, Chief Davis was selected by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland as the first female police chief for the Memphis Police Department. Memphis City Council later confirmed her in May and began her career as the Chief of Police for the Memphis Police Department on June 14, 2021.

Chief Davis is a graduate of the 225th Session of the National FBI Academy and completed senior management training at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in Boston, MA. Chief Davis has experienced training opportunities abroad at the Emergency Preparedness College in York, England, and as a participant in a leadership exchange session with the Israel National Police.

She is a past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and recently testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the matter of Police Reform, in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. She has since been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, and other networks as a subject matter expert on this important topic.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and was appointed to North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper’s Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Task Force. <Source>

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and commendations, including Atlanta Police Supervisor of the Year, and featured in OPRAH’ O’ Magazine as the winner of the “Women Rule” competition, where she was recognized for establishing a women’s mentoring initiative entitled, “Sisters-In-Law.” In 2013, she was featured in Atlanta’s Women Looking Ahead Magazine as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Women.

Davis has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in General Administration. She is the proud wife of a supportive husband (retired law enforcement) for 27 years, and a mother of one daughter.

Shelby County ousts Amy Weirich, elects progressive prosecutor in Steve Mulroy

The Office of the Shelby County District Attorney General is poised for what could be a dramatic change after voters decided to replace incumbent Amy Weirich, a Republican, with Democratic challenger Steve Mulroy.

Promising reform in the district attorney’s office, Mulroy ran on a progressive platform, often targeting Weirich for past prosecutorial misconduct and for her failure to lower crime rates in Shelby County.

While campaigning earlier Thursday, Mulroy said his first priorities if elected would include diversifying the office, beginning a conviction review unit and taking a second look at bail policies.

“I think people need to understand that I’m not anti-police, I don’t want to defund anything,” Mulroy said, responding to some of Weirich’s advertisements during the campaign. “In fact I want to spend more on police, hire more police, train them better, pay them better and refocus on violent crime, because it’s got to be our number one priority.”

Mulroy drew support from high-profile national figures, including EGOT winner John Legend, rapper and actor Common and civil rights attorney Ben Crump. And, he was joined at a luncheon by family members of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake, Black men and women whose stories spread nationwide after they were killed or severely injured by police. <Source>

[ OCS: Steven J. Mulroy is the District Attorney for Shelby County, Tennessee. He was elected DA in August 2022. DA Mulroy oversees a total staff of 238, including more than 110 prosecutors. High-profile attorney Ben Crump has been rewarded handsomely for helicoptering into prominent police abuse cases, making untrue or outlandish claims, and then walking away with multi-million dollar settlements, many unjustified by the facts.]