Memphis police officials plan to hire the Police Executive Research Forum to assess the department, says new Director Toney Armstrong, reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “They have conducted comprehensive studies of police departments and issues they confront from across the nation,” Armstrong said. “I feel their insights would be useful as we seek to enhance what we do.”
An anonymous source released three more snippets that were secretly recorded in a two-hour meeting between Armstrong and his command staff April 28. In an earlier release from the same meeting, when Armstrong charged that former police director Larry Godwin had created “monsters” inside the department. “It is always important whenever a new leader comes in to establish the differences in leadership style and to remind people of the changing of the guard,” Armstrong said yesterday. “Keep in mind that the taping of these meetings proves that I am right to have some concerns about the agendas and the loyalty of those who serve.” Armstrong believes those who are disgruntled are a small faction within the department. “I think it’s a very small minority. Any time there’s change, there’s going to be resistance to change,” he said.