There is no shortage of people who say they want to help Mayor AC Wharton implement his vision of city government at City Hall.
Moments after Wharton was sworn in, police director Larry Godwin, who had most of his high-ranking command staff along with him, said he looked forward to fighting crime with the new mayor.
"I think there's an excitement in the air," Godwin said. "I feel it just like everybody. We're ready to go to work."
Retired Judge George Brown, who has known Wharton for around 30 years and administered the mayor's oath of office, said Wharton would lead the city to new heights under his leadership.
"He's such a class act," Brown said. "I think our best days in Memphis are ahead of us, and I think he has the energy, passion, experience and commitment."
Councilman Shea Flinn said he hopes the council will work with Wharton to solve the many challenges facing the city. Wharton appeared before the council last week, where Councilman Joe Brown welcomed him to the "world of fire" that is city government and directed what many people consider inappropriate racial language at Flinn..
"We'll see if the council is able to take the powerful remarks of the mayor and go forward with his initiatives," said Flinn. "Hope springs eternal."
Councilman Edmund Ford Jr., a member of Wharton's transition team, said he believes Wharton and the council will be able to work well together.
"I believe Mayor Wharton is going to make a wonderful transition, and I believe he will have an excellent professional rapport with the council," said Ford.
I believe ie AC.
Excitement in the air? Is that the way he's referring to shooting people's pets these days?!
Police Director Larry Godwin stated "I think there's an excitement in the air, I feel it just like everybody. We're ready to go to work."
Let us see if these are just words or that the lack of aggressiveness against gang bangers by the police department was at the direction of King Willie and intercity ministers.
Hopefully all officers will be directed by the police director to become aggressive and start arresting gang bangers and criminals for any violation of the law they can arrest them for. Little violation can take them off the street for a few hours. After several arrests, hopefully a judge would keep them until their trial.
When making lots of arrests they are not all going to go without problems. The mayor and police director must support the police officers and disregard the complaints from the intercity ministers who will complain in my opinion.
Let us see if the police directors means what he has said.
"lack of aggressiveness against gang bangers"
Apparently you have not been paying attention as the MPD has arrested dozens of gang bangers since Godwin became Director.
Google found this info for you:
In 2007 - under Blue Crush, the Memphis Police Department made 1,500 gang-related arrests.
In 2009 - Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Thursday that Memphis police officers served or attempted to serve warrants on 52 individuals, many of whom are known gang members and their associates, who were indicted earlier this week for felony drug violations stemming from Operation: “Summer Heat.” The Organized Crime Unit officers also attempted to serve an arrest warrant to one juvenile. In addition to the criminal charges, the Memphis Police and D.A.’s Office served numerous search warrants and public nuisance orders on the properties targeted in the undercover investigation.
Officers started the round-up of defendants early Thursday morning. The names of defendants in custody at this time will be released separately. Ten vehicles used to transport illegal narcotics were also to be seized on Thursday.
The state Grand Jury for Shelby County on Tuesday returned 150 criminal indictments on numerous counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell a controlled substance. Most charges were for the sale of crack cocaine, but some included methamphetamine. The amount of narcotics allegedly sold resulted in mostly class B and C felonies, for which the standard sentences are 8-12 years and 3-6 years, respectively.
Of the 52 defendants, 27 are known gang members representing the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Crips, Bloods, Mitchell Heights Vets, and 7th Street Murder Squad. The youngest individual is a 17-year-old male and the oldest is a 44-year-old male.
And in Feburary of 2009
FAST FACTS
An early morning round-up by Memphis Police nets dozens of arrests, guns, and drugs.
Police say several high-ranking members of the Gangster Disciples were part of the bust.
Officers even found a bulletproof vest in a suspects home that belongs to a Memphis Police Officer.
Dozens of convicted murderers, robbers, high level drug dealers, and even members of the gangster disciples off Memphis streets tonight, after an early morning bust netted plenty of illegal drugs and dangerous weapons.