Memphis Police Wrote Fewer Tickets in July After Pay Cuts Were Approved

Sept. 29--Memphis officials noted a dramatic drop in the number of citations issued in July by Memphis Police Department officers, the month after 4.6 percent pay cuts were approved for MPD officers and most city workers.

Officers issued 18,341 citations, summonses and ordinance violations in July, down from 29,092 in July 2010 and 34,149 in July 2009, according to records from the City Court Clerk's Office.

A similar decrease was recorded in August, when MPD officers issued 20,599 citations, down from 28,162 in August 2010 and 27,547 in August 2009.

After a brutal budget season this summer, most city employees -- including police officers -- saw 4.6 percent of their pay get cut. In addition, the City Council is slated to have its third and final vote in October on pension and benefit reforms proposed by Mayor A C Wharton.

The changes -- which would affect new employees and current employees with fewer than 10 years of service -- include setting a minimum age to receive retirement benefits and using a salary average to determine pension.

MPD Director Toney Armstrong alerted department chiefs by e-mail in August to watch out for a possible work slowdown by officers. The note to "MEM MPD Executive Staff" sent from Armstrong on Aug. 10 copied an anonymous online comment at a local news site saying officers were conducting a slowdown.

"Make sure our supervisors are monitoring," Armstrong's message said.

"The director has not been directly contacted by any group of officers or any agency representing them regarding a work slowdown, stoppage or job action of any kind," police spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph said Wednesday. "Such an action is a direct violation of MPD policy.

"Although our officers were affected by pay reductions during these tough economic times, the majority of them still maintain the highest level of professionalism and continue to honor their oath."

Mike Williams, vice president of the Memphis Police Association, the union that represents police officers, said: "There is definitely not a concerted effort I know about. That's not something we would endorse or condone."

Fewer citations could mean less revenue for the city, said George Little, city chief administrative officer.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, $12.5 million of the city's $673 million budget -- or 1.8 percent -- came from traffic fines, court costs, and red-light-camera traffic tickets.

The drop in citations issued by police comes after the city council in June approved several budget measures aimed at increasing revenues from citations and parking violations. Those measures included increasing court costs for moving violations and parking tickets from $61 to $135 per incident, which was expected to net the city $4.8 million.

Little said he has not heard about a deliberate slowdown by officers disgruntled over pay cuts or potential changes to the city's pension and benefit systems.

"I would say it's short-sighted," Little said of the possibility of a work slowdown.

"If the intent is to deprive the city of revenue, it makes it that much more difficult to restore the pay they want restored."

The city's finance division reported revenue collections for July and August, the first two months of this fiscal year, at $1,760,000. For the same period in 2010, the amount was $2,038,000. The numbers include traffic fines and red-light-camera revenues.

-- Amos Maki: (901) 529-2351