The National Police Association (NPA) is supporting a change.org petition calling on Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to withdraw his lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act.
The petition, titled “Stop Memphis DA From Protecting Criminals,” argues Memphis residents should be able to see what happens to serious criminal cases generated by the Memphis Safe Task Force when prosecutors reduce charges, enter plea agreements, dismiss cases, or decline to prosecute.
The NPA announced its support Monday, citing the task force’s work in Memphis and the accountability requirements Tennessee lawmakers established.
“The Memphis Safe Task Force has located missing children, seized more than 1,700 illegal firearms, and made more than 10,000 arrests,” NPA President Eddie Hutchison said. “These officers are doing dangerous work to reclaim streets for decent citizens. That work deserves prosecution and accountability.”
The Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act, which started as Public Chapter 943 earlier this year, requires a district attorney general overseeing cases originating from the Memphis Safe Task Force or a federal violent-crime task force to report certain prosecutorial decisions. The law applies to specified serious offenses, including murder, felony firearm and drug offenses, sexual offenses, certain theft offenses, RICO violations, and criminal gang offenses.
Under the enacted version of the law, reports must be submitted to the Tennessee Attorney General, the speakers of the Tennessee House and Senate, the District Attorneys General Conference, and the U.S. attorney with jurisdiction in the judicial district. Reports are due within 10 business days of the relevant action, with monthly compilations required.
Mulroy filed a lawsuit in May challenging the accountability law and a separate attorney general audit law, arguing the measures unfairly target his office. His lawsuit also alleged White House officials pressured Tennessee lawmakers to “deal with” him.
The Shelby County District Attorney previously characterized the task force reporting requirement as “busy work,” arguing it would require his office to manually review cases and divert staff from other duties.
The NPA is now urging supporters to sign the petition calling for Mulroy to withdraw the lawsuit and allow the reporting requirements to take effect. The organization joins the National Association of Police Organizations, Victims Rights Reform Council, State Representative John Gillespie (R-Memphis), State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in formally endorsing the petition.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Steve Mulroy” by Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
