MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Local 24 News political analyst and commentator Otis Sanford shareshis point of view on Memphis Police Director Mike Rallings.
Memphis Police Director Mike Rallings has become muchmore vocal lately about things he wants to change in his department. He isactively lobbying the city council to approve a take home policy for squad cars,and to put another referendum before city voters to do away with residencyrequirements for new officers.
One reason for his stepped-up efforts to make thesechanges just might be the fact that Rallings plans to leave the job in lessthan a year and a half. And these changes would be a pretty good legacy toleave behind.
Rallings is openly talking about his scheduleddeparture in April 2021 under the city’s Deferred Retirement Option Plan, alsoknown as the DROP program. Mayor Jim Strickland is talking about it also. Andsays he will likely develop criteria for finding a new director sometime inmid-2020.
One thing does seem almost certain. Rallings’replacement will be someone already with the department. That’s because whenthe new director officially takes over, Strickland will only have about two anda half years left in his final term as mayor. Which means it’s unlikely that acandidate from another city would take the job and run the risk of being let goby a new mayor.
But all of that is in the distant future. For now, Rallingsis working overtime to put his stamp on the MPD. And that’s my point of view.