Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said Wednesday that he is not resigning despite intense public scrutiny over multiple allegations of officer misconduct and the shooting of a 15-year-old boy by an off-duty officer.
Armstrong held a hastily-called news conference in response to rumors that he was stepping down as head of the Memphis Police Department. Earlier, the head of the Memphis police union said he supports Armstrong and that Mayor A C Wharton Jr. was unfairly blaming the police director for problems within the 2,400-officer department.
Wharton expressed frustration with the department during a news conference a day earlier. Wharton ordered a review of police department procedures by an outside consultant with law enforcement experience who will investigate the department's hiring, recruitment, ethics training and internal affairs.
Wharton said the department was in an unacceptable state and firmly said "Yes" when asked if jobs were on the line pending the outcome of the review.
Armstrong disagreed with the mayor's statement that the department is in an unacceptable state, adding that a few isolated incidents of misconduct unfairly cast the entire department in a bad light.
"I am not stepping down. I am still the director of the police department and I still have all intentions of serving as director of the police department," Armstrong said.
Armstrong and Wharton met Wednesday. Afterward, the mayor appeared to soften his criticism with a statement saying he is not questioning the ability of the police director or his officers to protect the community.
"With 23 years on the force, he is a proven and exceptional leader and has my full support," Wharton said.
Earlier Wednesday, Michael Williams, president of the Memphis Police Association, said Armstrong was ambushed by Wharton on Tuesday. Williams said the mayor is to blame for a 4.6 percent pay cut for police officers that has lowered their morale.
Armstrong, who became director in April 2011, should be given time to fix the problems he inherited from previous administrations, Williams said.
"We think that the director needs to be un-handcuffed," Williams said. "He's being thrown under the bus at every turn, and we can't figure out why."
Criticism from the community increased after authorities said off-duty police officer Terrance Shaw fatally shot 15-year-old Justin Thompson on Monday night.
The mayor's office said Wednesday that Shaw was the apparent victim of a robbery attempt. Armstrong said the officer discharged his weapon during the robbery and shot "the responsible suspect."
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting, at the request of Armstrong and the Shelby County district attorney's office. Shaw has been relieved of duty with pay pending the results of the probe.
There have been 22 arrests of Memphis Police Department personnel this year, including arrests of two civilians working for the department, according to the mayor's office.
