Shelby County will now have a citizen board reviewing the sheriff's office, jailers
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners Monday passed an ordinance that would codify the county's first-ever law enforcement review board for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. The Citizens Law Enforcement Review Committee, also known as CLERC, would review issues with both Shelby County Sheriff's Office deputies and deputy jailers in the county-run correctional facilities.
CLERC, a community-led group, would only be able to review misconduct after SCSO completes an internal investigation. Commissioners previously passed an ordinance establishing the body but needed to pass a separate one due to state law changes.
The sponsor of the ordinance, Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, said that there was another death at the Shelby County Jail, also known as 201 Poplar, and that when detainees are within custody, the government has a duty to protect and care for them.
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The ordinance received another party-line vote with all Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting against it.
Republican Commissioner Amber Mills said that the ordinance vilifies law enforcement and she is not in support of the board's existence. Commissioner Brandon Morrison echoed Mill's disapproval of the ordinance and said that she had heard one of the reasons Shelby County isn't growing is because "people are voting with their feet," and moving out of the county.
"We're already short law enforcement officers and jailers....if they mess up, they should get in trouble –absolutely. But with the situation we're in right now and the criminal problem (like) this?" Mills said.
Land bank ordinance pushed again
Commissioner Britney Thornton's ordinance to reform the Shelby County Land Bank has been pushed back again. After Commissioner Henri Brooks asked about concerns expressed by Public Works Director Cliff Norville, Thornton offered to refer the item to a future committee meeting.
Norville said his concerns about the ordinance does not mean he is necessarily against it. Norville said that responsibilities like surveying customers, reporting back to the Commission and marketing for properties have not been required of the land bank. More staff and a larger budget will be needed to execute all the additional responsibilities, Norville said.
Thornton's justification for changing aspects of the land bank was that the department was operating in a way that did not profit the county.
Thornton ran the Delinquent Tax Property Ad Hoc committee, which sought to see how strategic changes to the department could make it operate more efficiently. She has purchased multiple properties through the land bank but has been unable to since being elected as a Commissioner in 2022.
Current employees of Shelby County government cannot purchase properties from the land bank, including elected officials.
Proposed changes to the department include:
Properties must be sold for a value more than the taxes owed unless the taxes owed are more than the property's value.
Nominal conveyances, properties given to non-profits free of charge, will be sold at a minimum of half of the assessed value to be paid and must be aligned with any current city or county neighborhood plan.
The processing fee for properties will be lowered to $35 and will be refundable for unsuccessful bids.
In-person bid-offs are mandated to promote competition.
Discounts for property owners who purchase an adjacent property.
Morrison said that the ordinance hinders the free market, gives an advantage to some buyers and dictates how certain properties can be developed.
Other actions taken during Monday's meeting
A $2.5 million allotment of ARPA funds to The Hub was pushed back.
Memephis-Shelby County Schools' ask for $320,000 for the development of a facility, programming and transportation services for pre-adjudicated youth for its Evening Reporting Center passed overwhelmingly.
A one-time stipend of $1,500 for all eligible, permanent and full-time Juvenile Court Clerk's Office Employees was approved.
Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Citizens Law Enforcement Review Committee established
