Memphis mayoral candidate Van Turner talks policing, public safety after Tyre Nichols

After the death of Tyre Nichols, the city of Memphis has faced a public reckoning over police policies, practices and transparency.

The Memphis City Council has passed multiple police reforms, while MPD Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland disbanded the SCORPION Unit, whose members included the five police officers charged with second-degree murder in Nichols’ death.

But the conversations about policing also come on the front end of a race for the next Memphis mayor. So far, roughly a dozen people have entered the race, even though petitions cannot be pulled until May 22 and the actual election is not until Oct. 5.

The next mayor of Memphis is likely to determine the future of policing in the city, including who serves as the police chief and what policies are implemented.

The Commercial Appeal reached out to the campaigns of each mayoral candidate who so far has declared a run for mayor. Each campaign was asked the same set of questions about policing and public safety, the answers to which are linked below in alphabetical order by last name.

Here are the responses from Van Turner, former Shelby County Commissioner and current president of the local NAACP. Responses from other candidates can be found by clicking here.

Responses have been edited for AP style.

Please briefly describe your background and qualifications for mayor.

I am a native of Whitehaven and raise my three children with my junior high sweetheart, Tammie, in Memphis. A graduate of Morehouse College and University of Tennessee Law school, where I served as the president of the Black Law Students Association. After law school, I clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays Jr. Currently, I am a partner at Turner Feild, PLLC and also head the non-profit which removed the Confederate statues of Nathan B. Forrest and Jefferson Davis from Memphis Parks. I was elected in 2014 and re-elected unopposed in 2018 as Shelby County Commissioner. Furthermore, I currently serve as president of the Memphis Branch of the NAACP.

I am running for Memphis Mayor because I want the same thing for my family that I want for all families in Memphis.  Memphis will only become the city that we know it can become when we provide opportunities for all.

What do you believe are the primary issues facing the Memphis Police Department today?

I believe the primary issue historically was the reduction in benefits which led to a mass exodus of officers. Currently, we need more officers, but we should better utilize the officers we have on the force. I think the pay and benefits for our law enforcement professionals should be as competitive as possible. We should promote within the force as well to make sure that officers know that there is a legitimate career path if they join the force. Finally, and most importantly, there should be a defined scope of work and action for tactical units with an emphasis on training and leadership placement to make sure senior officers are assisting new officers. Also, we need to support law enforcement officers with placing emphasis on crime prevention which include equitable education options and facilities, truancy and homelessness remediation among our K-12 student population and deploying mental health professionals to help deal with non-violent mental health emergencies. If we respect more, support more and pay more, we will see improvement.

If elected mayor, how would you approach specialized units like the Organized Crime Unit or the now defunct SCORPION Unit?

As previously stated, a cleaner defined scope of duties, better leadership placement and more training. Further, officers need a longer cooling off period after serving stints on these specialized units. Additionally, we need more emotional and psychological support for these officers during the cooling off period. We also likely need to review the qualifications to serve on these specialized units with an emphasis on more time in the field before officers are allowed to join these units.

What sort of data should be maintained and released regarding traffic stops, use of force and other policing issues?

We should be as transparent as possible. We should fully support CLERB and make sure that all necessary agencies have all the information they need to track these incidents and to make sure that both the law enforcement officer and the seized citizen are protected. I believe that more data sharing will allow a better understanding and analysis of what can be improved or implemented to again make sure that both law enforcement and citizen are protected and that there is a necessary rebuild of trust between law enforcement and our citizens.

How many police officers does MPD need? If more than the current number, how would you go about encouraging recruitment?

I believe the full complement is 2,500. We should work towards that goal while still focusing on proven crime prevention methods. I would continue what is going on now, and I would do more to reach out to high school students and college students for recruitment purposes.

The city council has passed several ordinance on police reform. What are your thoughts on these ordinances, whether you support or do not support them?

I support the reform ordinances. These measures are necessary, and I support them.

Has MPD leadership met the death of Tyre Nichols with sufficient transparency? Why or why not?

I believe they have thus far. The cases are still moving through the judicial system, and I am sure more facts will be revealed. However, thus far, I believe MPD leadership has met the death of Mr. Nichols with sufficient transparency. I am sure this same standard will be applied going forward and with the death of Gershun Freeman in the Shelby County Jail.

What, if anything, would you advocate for at the state level to change regarding policing and public safety?

We need sensible gun laws. This will make a difference. Military assault rifles need to be banned. We need to bring back permitted gun carry laws across the board. We also need better background checks. As the Tennessee Three have demonstrated, we need action to overcome the inaction which has stifled this issue in the past.

Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Van Turner, Memphis mayor candidate, talks policing, public safety