MPD review discipline policies after 20 officers arrested - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

(WMC-TV) - Memphis police are reviewing discipline policies in the wake of the arrests of 20 officers on various charges this year.

There will be a waste, fraud, and abuse hotline within MPD to report wrongdoing and all Memphis Police Department staff will go through ethics training.

In addition, MPD will expand programs that help staff deal with job stress as the department looks for ways to keep cops on the right side of the law.

Mayor A C Wharton acknowledged public outcry over a spate of recent officer-involved incidents.

The force consists of 2,480 officers with nearly two dozen have been arrested over the past year.

"This is some heavy lifting. This isn't a hobby," said Wharton.

Memphis Police Department Director Toney Armstrong acknowledged a dire need to improve MPD operations.  Thus announcing an expansive review of the department's disciplinary policies and procedures and a review of the nature of police services provided in Memphis.

"We're not afraid to police our own," said Armstrong.

"It's time for us to look at our department, look what works, look what we feel like needs to change," he continued.

Armstrong and Wharton are enlisting the services of three paid consultants who will make recommendations.

Including former MPD Colonel's Billy Garret and Bishop Mays as well as First Baptist Broad Pastor Keith Norman.

"We're not working on the presumption that we've got a bunch of bad cops and we're going to find them. We're working on the presumption that we've got a bunch of good cops and we want to keep it that way. Whatever it takes," said Wharton.

The disciplinary recommendations will be made in 60 days, but the entire review will last through June 2013.

"We are well on our way to making some changes that we feel are necessary," said Wharton.

The city and consultants have not yet finalized a price tag on their services.

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