Was the Memphis police chief's stolen gun stored properly? It is unclear

The reported theft of Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis' city-issued gun last weekend raises the question of whether the head of the police department was following the department's gun storage rules.

When MPD disclosed the theft of Davis's gun Monday, it said the gun had been stored in a lockbox but didn't specify if just the gun was stolen or the lockbox was, too.

When asked Tuesday, Maj. Karen Rudolph said, "The lockbox was unattached and it was also stolen."

If the lockbox was not attached to the car, Davis could have been in violation of the department's policy, according to The Commercial Appeal's review of the MPD policy manual. That policy says the lockbox should be attached to the car.

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There's also a lack of clarity about who would investigate Davis if she was found to have violated department policy. She outranks everyone else in the police department and only reports to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

In an interview Tuesday, Strickland said there would be no further scrutiny of the incident from his office.

"I'm not referring it to anyone. Chief Davis reports directly to me. She and I have spoken about this incident and we are moving forward. She has my full faith. And we are laser-focused on reducing crime and rebuilding the police department including improved pay for [police] officers," Strickland said.

MPD manual: lockboxes should be attached to vehicle

The section of the manual that regulates gun storage in cars says, "Placing or locking a weapon in a glove compartment or trunk should not be considered safe in itself. However, a secured device such as a gun safe, which is fixed and attached to the vehicle, would be a safe measure."

The department's policy also says, "Portable locked cases alone and desk drawers are not secure locations for firearm storage." The manual puts the word portable in bold.

Davis is not mentioned in the police report about her stolen gun. The gun and lockbox are not mentioned in the official narrative about the incident, but a SigSauer 9 mm gun that belongs to the Memphis Police Department and a lockbox are among the property detailed as stolen.

Davis's husband is listed as the victim and the owner of the other stolen goods, which included three cigars, a few computer cords and prescription medication.

Rudolph did not respond to a question about whether or not Davis was following department policy with how she stored the gun or if the gun had a ballistic fingerprint. A ballistic fingerprint records unique markings left on a bullet or shell casing when fired from a gun. This fingerprint allows investigators to quickly identify the specific gun used when a bullet or casing is recovered from a crime scene.

Violation of department policy can be investigated by the department's internal affairs bureau or IAB. When a rank-and-file officer loses their weapon, the IAB would likely investigate. Department policy also requires a written memo about the lost gun to one of the department's deputy chiefs in order for it to be replaced.

The high-profile theft of Davis's gun comes after the police department and her predecessor Michael Rallings spent years warning the public against storing guns in cars. The police department routinely presents data to the Memphis City Council about the hundreds of guns that are stolen from cars annually.

Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis' gun stolen: Was it stored properly?