DIVISION OF POLICE SERVICES

Memphis Code of Ordinances tit. 2, ch. 2-28

in effect

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-1 Established; director; transfer of bureaus, departments, funds.

Sec. 2-28-1. - Established; director; transfer of bureaus, departments, funds. There is established a division of police services with a director for such division to be appointed thereto in the same manner as other directors, and there are transferred from the division of fire and police to the division of police services the bureaus and departments known as the police department. (Code 1967, §§ 2-256, 30-1; Code 1985, § 28-1; Ord. No. 1495, 10-10-1972)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-2 Composition of division.

Sec. 2-28-2. - Composition of division. The city police services division shall consist of a director of police services, one deputy director, four deputy chiefs, and such chief inspectors, inspectors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives and patrol officers as may be necessary to efficiently conduct such division. (Code 1967, § 30-1; Code 1985, § 28-2)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-3 Appointment, general powers and duties of director.

Sec. 2-28-3. - Appointment, general powers and duties of director. The director of police services shall be appointed by the mayor. The director of police services shall have general care of the peace of the city, and shall see that all subordinates do their duty in preserving the same. He or she shall have control over the entire police force and see to the execution of every ordinance. He or she shall have general supervision over the subject of nuisances, and the abatement of same, and shall exercise and discharge all such powers and functions as pertain to his or her office and perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by this Code or other ordinance. (Code 1967, § 30-2; Code 1985, § 28-3)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-4 Appointment of other officers and employees of division.

Sec. 2-28-4. - Appointment of other officers and employees of division. The director of police services is authorized and empowered to appoint one deputy director, four deputy chiefs and as many chief inspectors, inspectors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives and patrol officers, together with such emergency police, secretaries, clerks, stenographers, operators, janitors, turnkeys, desk lieutenants, desk sergeants, mechanics, matrons, women police officers and such other help as may be needed to efficiently police the city and to efficiently conduct the police division of the city. (Code 1967, § 30-4; Code 1985, § 28-4)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-5 Salaries.

Sec. 2-28-5. - Salaries. Where not fixed by statute, ordinance or resolution of the city council, the salaries or wages of all members of the police division are to be fixed in a manner consistent with city personnel policies and procedures. (Code 1967, § 30-5; Code 1985, § 28-5)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-6 Uniforms and equipment furnished by city.

Sec. 2-28-6. - Uniforms and equipment furnished by city. A. The police division shall furnish to all officers, upon entry on duty and receiving commissions, such equipment and uniform clothing which the director designates as necessary, but not to exceed a cost value per officer in the amount specified by the city council from time to time. The police division shall furnish to all officers replacement uniform clothing and equipment as needed, but not to exceed in cost to the police division the sum per year, per officer, specified by the city council from time to time. B. All plainclothes officers shall be furnished by the police division a clothing allowance in an amount not to exceed per year, per officer, the amount specified by the city council from time to time. C. The police division shall furnish all safety patrol personnel employed as school crossing guards, upon entry on duty, uniforms and equipment designated necessary by the director, but not to exceed in cost to the police division, per person, the amount specified by the city council from time to time. Thereafter, the police division shall furnish to such school crossing guards replacement uniforms and equipment as needed, but not to exceed per year, per person, the cost to the police division in the amount specified by the city council from time to time. D. Items of uniforms and equipment issued to police division personnel under the provisions of this section shall remain the property of the city police division and shall be returned to the city police division by the person to whom issued upon termination of service, or upon the instructions of the director. E. All items of uniforms and equipment issued under the provisions of this section may be declared expended, unuseable or beyond repair, when in the discretion of the director such appears warranted and may thereafter be disposed of in the manner determined most practicable by the director. (Code 1967, § 30-7; Code 1985, § 28-6; Ord. No. 241, § 1, 8-6-1968; Ord. No. 411, §§ 1—6, 3-18-1969)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-7 Rules and regulations for conduct of department.

Sec. 2-28-7. - Rules and regulations for conduct of department. The director of police may, from time to time, promulgate and shall enforce such rules and regulations for the conduct of the police division, not inconsistent with the Charter and ordinances of the city, as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the division and policing of the city. (Code 1967, § 30-8; Code 1985, § 28-7)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-8 Duty to enforce Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 2-28-8. - Duty to enforce Code of Ordinances. It shall be the duty of the director of police and all his or her subordinates to enforce all of the provisions of this Code and all subsequent ordinances, and to arrest offenders for violations thereof, to be dealt with according to law, notwithstanding the creation of special police, inspectors, boards and commissions to enforce or supervise the enforcement of specific provisions of this Code and subsequent ordinances. (Code 1967, § 30-9; Code 1985, § 28-8)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-9 Complaints against officers and patrol officers.

Sec. 2-28-9. - Complaints against officers and patrol officers. Complaints against officers or patrol officers of the division of police services shall be made through the director of police to the appropriate internal investigative unit of the division of police services. (Code 1967, § 30-10; Code 1985, § 28-9)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-10 Arrests generally.

Sec. 2-28-10. - Arrests generally. The police shall arrest all persons found violating any provisions of this Code or any city ordinance or law of the state, within the city limits. Such persons shall be immediately committed to the county jail. However such persons may be issued citations in lieu of arrest for such violations, in keeping with applicable city ordinances and state statutes which provide for such citations. Persons arrested for violation of a provision of any city ordinance may be released upon posting the established bond. (Code 1967, § 30-11; Code 1985, § 28-10)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-11 Disposition of property of persons arrested.

Sec. 2-28-11. - Disposition of property of persons arrested. No police officer shall, under any circumstances, receive or take any money, other valuable property, effects of any kind or description, from any person under arrest, or threatened with arrest, except evidence, contraband, weapons or other items seizeable under applicable state law. An officer taking any of the aforementioned property shall account for such property by receipt from the county jail property office and/or the police division property and evidence section. Any police officer or other officer violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be dismissed from office. (Code 1967, § 30-12; Code 1985, § 28-11)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-12 Treatment of prisoners.

Sec. 2-28-12. - Treatment of prisoners. No officer having a prisoner in custody shall needlessly or illegally cause or allow any peril or detriment to the life or health of any such person, by reason of too little or too much heat, or of a want of food, drink, or ventilation, or from the want or neglect of any other reasonable care, protection or precaution. (Code 1967, § 30-13; Code 1985, § 28-12)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-13 Impersonating police officer.

Sec. 2-28-13. - Impersonating police officer. It is unlawful for any person, other than an official police officer of the city, to wear the uniform, apparel or any other insignia of office like or similar to, or a colorable imitation of, that adopted and worn by official police officers, or to represent himself or herself to be a police officer of the city. (Code 1967, § 30-14; Code 1985, § 28-13)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-14 Offenses against police officers.

Sec. 2-28-14. - Offenses against police officers. It is unlawful for any person to assault or commit a battery upon any member of the police force, to resist the lawful arrest by any member of the police force, to escape from any lawful arrest by a member of the police force, to aid and abet in the escape from lawful arrest, or to obstruct or interfere in any manner with any police officer while in the performance of his or her lawful duties. (Code 1967, § 22-34.1; Code 1985, § 28-14; Ord. No. 953, § 1, 5-11-1971)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-15 Interference with police alarm boxes or signal system.

Sec. 2-28-15. - Interference with police alarm boxes or signal system. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to interfere or tamper with the alarm boxes or with the telephones, telephone or telegraph wires, radio frequencies, radio equipment, or signal system or apparatus of the division of police services. (Code 1967, § 30-16; Code 1985, § 28-15)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-16 Knife and gunshot wounds to be reported to police.

Sec. 2-28-16. - Knife and gunshot wounds to be reported to police. All physicians, surgeons, and hospitals, whether public or private, shall report to the police division all cases of knife and gunshot wounds treated by such physicians and surgeons, or contained in such hospital. Such report shall be made immediately by telephone or in writing and shall set forth the name, age, gender and color of the person so injured and his or her present location, and shall be delivered to the police division either in person or by letter immediately after the case comes to the knowledge of such physician, surgeon or hospital. (Code 1967, § 30-17; Code 1985, § 28-16)

Memphis Code of Ordinances § 2-28-17 Memphis Police Central Records charges and fees.

Sec. 2-28-17. - Memphis Police Central Records charges and fees. A. Fees and charges established. There is hereby established central records fees and charges to defray part of the costs associated with the review, production and redaction of documents, which fees and charges shall be payable by the requestor prior to receipt. Said fees and charges shall be billed by the Memphis Police Department on behalf of the City of Memphis and the proceeds used exclusively by the Memphis Police Department. B. Fees deposited in MPD administrative fund. One third of the total of all proceeds collected by police central records pursuant to the above shall be deposited into the revenue account of central records in the division of police services, with the remaining proceeds to be deposited into the Memphis Police Department's Information and Technology Service Center revenue account to support maintenance, equipment, training and new initiatives within the real time crime center. C. Fees schedules—Payable to central records. Fees and charges are set out as follows, and shall apply to any record maintained by central records. An additional processing fee will be charged for requests that require more than one hour of labor to produce. The rate of the processing fee shall be equivalent to the processing employee's hourly salary, and the fee shall accumulate for every minute beyond one hour that it takes to fully process the request. Shipping or other production fees may also apply. When available, an electronic version of the record may be produced at no charge; labor processing fees may still apply. 1. Accident/incident reports. TN residents auto crash reports | $0.15 per page Out of state residents auto crash reports | $15.00 per report TN residents offense reports | $0.15 per page Out of state residents offense reports | $15.00 per report Auto crash scene/crime scene photos | $1.50 each Auto crash scene/crime scene photos (CD's) | $10.00 each Mug shots/booking photos | $5.00 each Crime analysis | $0.15 per page 2. Academy training files. Basic training CD's | $10.00 each In service training CD's | $10.00 each Specialized training CD's | $10.00 each Driving training CD's | $10.00 each Firearms training CD's | $10.00 each MPD policies & procedure CD's | $10.00 each MPD policies & procedure printed manual | $75.00 each 3. Human resource records. Personnel files | $0.15 per page Employment files | $0.15 per page 4. Communications records. Dispatched audio with print-out (CD) | $10.00 per event Dispatach—Print-out only | $0.15 per page Body camera footage (DVD) | $5.00 per event Dash camera footage (DVD) | $5.00 per event 5. Miscellaneous police records. Officer log sheets | $0.15 per page IAB files | $0.15 per page MPD union contract agreement book | $25.00 each Wrecker ordinance/guideline books | $25.00 each (Ord. No. 5612, § 1, 4-5-2016)

Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2-28DIPOSEFetched: 10/28/2026