MPD to host town halls, podcasts and video conversations in effort to foster open communication
The Memphis Police Department is re-launching a podcast, beginning a town hall series and working on what the department calls "a special project" to loop Memphians into department initiatives.
The projects, according to a press release, are meant to "foster more open lines of communication, addressing the issue of crime in Memphis and discussing solutions to move the city forward," and follow commitments by the department's brass to communicate more consistently with the Memphis community after the death of Tyre Nichols. All events will be produced by KUDZUKIAN, a local audio and video content producer.
"The MPD’s focus is on 21st century collaborative policing," MPD Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis said in the release. "To that end, we want to make an earnest effort to be in better communication and in a closer relationship with the citizens who are under our care. And that starts with us actively being a listening ear."
The podcast, "Best in Blue," will focus on individual officers and feature a 30-minute conversation about what they do within the department. It will be hosted by Candace Gray, founder and CEO of the public relations firm CG Communications.
"'Best in Blue' is a 30-minute conversation that uncovers the human behind the badge and the various responsibilities within the department, along with some of the programs that have been successful," the press release from KUDZUKIAN said.
The town hall series, which has been titled "Critical Conversations," will feature multiple stops across Memphis, and will be hosted in churches. Each event will feature speakers from the community, and the town halls will be streamed for those unable to attend in person
The first town hall will be Wednesday May 17 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at St. Paul Baptist Church, 2124 E. Holmes Road, and feature members from a collective of Black Greek letter organizations, with a focus on crime among young Memphians.
"How can the Black Greek system be more engaged? How can the organizations be change agents for our city on a micro and macro level? How can we jointly reimagine policing and create effective strategies for 21st century policing? These are all hot topics that are top of mind as the community seeks answers and solutions to the issue of youth crime and violence," the press release said.
Wednesday's town hall will be moderated by WMC5 reporter and anchor Kelli Cook and feature Davis as well as the following panelists: Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon; Gentleman's League founder Archie Moss; Mario Cole, the dean of students and families at Memphis Rise Academy; Terence Patterson, CEO of the Memphis Education Fund; Eve Slaughter, principal at Cornerstone Prep; and former Memphis Police officer LA Webb. Cook, Davis and the other panelists are members of Black fraternities and sororities.
The "special project" the press release referred to will be titled "breaking Bread with Chief," and will be a series of "intimate, unfiltered conversations filmed at local restaurants" across Memphis. The series will feature a mixture of local activists and community leaders.
In the first episode, the press release said, Davis will host Keedran Franklin, a local activist and founder of food truck The Check-In, the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, senior pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, and Dana Wilson, executive director of Bridges USA.
KUDZUKIAN said the content is slated to release throughout May and June, but said other events will be announced later.
Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MPD to begin podcast and video series, host town halls around Memphis
