Memphis corruption dates back a LONG time, here in the home of the lazy river. Boss Crump was a political machine and it was WELL oiled, during the 1920's-1950's. So, corruption and Memphis are two words that seem to go together. Back in the 1970's when there were no computers, except for the ones that took up entire rooms, there was little tracking of the drugs and drug money that the Shelby County Sheriff's Department was confiscating. I'm not a betting man, but, I'd bet my right nut that the officers in charge of those programs, back then, are on easy street today. Let's subpoena the personnel records and do a check of what they are up to today. You might be surprised. Or maybe not, on second thought. Does anyone remember
Sherriff Jack Owens? Rambo Jack, they called him. He was going to clean up the drug problem in Memphis. He was so honest, so sincere. He wore Army camo and appeared to be the great protecter of all that was evil in Memphis and Shelby County. Only, there was ONE problem.
After a while, Jack Owens became as bad and corrupt as the criminals he was going after. His generals and lieutenants in his war became "bag men" and collectors. They floated around Shelby County for years addicted to the power, the money, the sex parties they threw for each other and Jack Owens, himself, was actually caught transporting cocaine across state lines in a Shelby County vehicle and was nearly arrested in Alabama, by a state trooper. The sheriff of Shelby County was dealing! So, did he get indicted? No, he knew what was coming and he took the cowards way out. He drove to a gas station, in Frayser, and put a shotgun to his throat and pulled the trigger. Guess what happened. The Sherriff's Department scrambled to "cover up" this mess they had created for themselves and 24/7 damage control set up camp. All was swept up under the carpet, the Drug Task force was dismantled. The corrupt cops, who were "the entire drug squad" was reassigned to low key jobs, out of the spotlight. This was fine with them. hell, they were rich now! They didn't care! They're all living in $500,000 or more houses now! Some have remained low key and haven't flaunted their "drug money" wealth. They may be one of your neighbors. Most have bought property out of state and laundered their money, by now. Two are Police Chiefs in other surrounding cities.
Oh, it is just not the county cops who have been corrupt. The city is as corrupt as they are, if not more. You have $30,000 a year evidence room attendees showing up in $2,000,000, mansions, in Atlanta. Heard any more about that? I haven't. It has gotten so bad that it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad now. Thaddeus makes a very good point about Larry Godwin and his antics. How can they judge someone, when they are 100 times worse than the actual criminals. Cops think that because they have a badge and a gun that they are God and can do as they please! That's the way it is, here in Memphis. Our Mayor is made of teflon and so are the corrupt cops under him. It is hard to respect someone like the police force we have here in the Memphis area. My solution would be to fire them all and start over from scratch. I don't see that happening, so get used to the corruption and resolve yourself that the foxes are watching the hen houses around here. It will never stop and it's a nationwide epidemic. Want to get rich? Join the Shelby County Drug Task Force or the Memphis Police Department! Don't even get me started on the West Memphis Police Departement. Think any of the cops on the Interstate drug bust that were "proven" to have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars has ever spent a day in jail? Think again! So, fast forward to today here in our fair city. Deja' vu all over again! Fact is, if all the corrupt cops in Memphis and Shelby County were arrested for corruption, there would not be any police force left. You know how in church you turn to your right to greet your neighbor? That's what the corrupt cops would be doing to arrest each other. I don't see that happening! The corrupt get more corrupt and richer and you and I can't even drive five miles over the speed limit. I for one, have a problem with that. I hope YOU do!
