CJ Davis MPD Chief - NOT In Spite Of - BUT Because Of - Her Sketch AF Career History

meaww  |   Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, who is currently under fire after severe beating and the death of Tyre Nichols by her police officers, has earlier also faced controversy for leading the infamous REDDOG Unit while serving in Atlanta. The Memphis police chief formed a unit, called SCORPION, two years ago, consisting of 40 cops. But it was shut down after Nichols died on January 10 because of alleged police brutality. It has been said that three of the five officers involved in the alleged assault were from the SCORPION team.

Like SCORPION, REDDOG was also deactivated over a decade ago after allegations of “excessive force” and “police brutality” came to light, The Daily Mail reported. The page of Davis on the website of the Memphis Police Department also mentions that. It states, “As a Commander, she led the Special Operations Section, which included SWAT, Mounted Patrol, Motors, Helicopter Unit, Vice & Narcotics, REDDOG Unit, all Federal Task Force Officers, HIDTA Task Force, Cyber Crimes, Gangs & Guns, and the Surveillance Unit.”

In 2011, Mayor Kasim Reed ended REDDOG after cops of the unit raided a gay bar in September 2009 after receiving tips on illegal drug use and sex. They also reportedly took severe measures against those present there, which led to a federal lawsuit. A year later, the city of Atlanta had to give $1.025 million to the complainers.

Now, activist Hunter Dempster, who is an organizer with Decarcerate Memphis, has compared the two infamous police units. He told DailyMail.com, “They are literally an oppression force. The trust between the citizens and the police in Memphis is about as bad as you could ever imagine in a Metropolitan city. They are unchecked doom squads that can do whatever they want. Davis' REDDOG unit was disbanded, so how are you going to take the same premise of a disbanded unit to your new job?”

Dempster continued saying, “Davis is doing her best to say all the best social justice buzzwords and accountability – but she is just giving lip service and empty promises and trying to make herself look good,” before adding, “It shouldn't take someone dying for something to happen. They are violent bullies who pull you over, wave a gun in your face, and beat you up. They terrorize poor black and brown communities.”