After a successful launch last week, Just City continues its "Just Dialogues" -- a series of moderated townhall meetings, held at various locations throughout the city, to foster constructive and candid conversations with members of the public about the Memphis Police Department.
Specific points for discussion will include what kind of behavior citizens should expect from officers on patrol, the culture and attitudes they would like to see exhibited by members of the department, and appropriate policing techniques that will keep Memphis safe and peaceful.
The next Just Dialogue event will take place on
Thursday, July 21 at 6pm
Caritas Village, 2509 Harvard Avenue, Memphis 38112
The fourth Just Dialogue event will take place on
Thursday, July 28 at 5pm
Whitehaven Branch Library, 4120 Millbranch Road, Memphis 38116
Admission is free and all are welcome. Attendees and media are encouraged to use the hashtag #TopCopTalk to participate in the discussion.
An online survey to gathering more input and ideas is available at
TopCopTalk.squarespace.com thr
ough August 7.
"In the first half of this year, 558 Americans have been killed by police. To say that urban communities -- especially high-poverty neighborhoods of color -- feel an extraordinarily tense relationship with their local police departments right now would be a gross understatement," says
Allison Gibbs, Just City Director of Programs & Operations. "Memphis is at a unique crossroads, given our high homicide rate and Mayor Strickland's selection of a new leader for his Police Department. Whoever he selects will be responsible for enforcing our laws and protecting the people, and has a singular opportunity to advance a culture of respect, responsiveness, and discretion within the department.
"We believe that in a just city, people should be allowed to speak openly and honestly about what they expect from their police departments -- how they should be policed and what the outcomes of those interactions should be. That is what this summer's Just Dialogues will be about. We look forward to hearing from the people of Memphis about exactly how their police force should work with them to make our city safer and more peaceful for everyone -- beginning with the person who is chosen to lead MPD going forward."
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