1. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you propose programs and/or initiatives to limit the number of arrests for minor offenses in the city?
Clemons:
One of the major things I will push for is the discontinuance of giving citations for misdemeanor marijuana offenses. As a city, we are top heavy with misdemeanor citations related to marijuana possession and as such, I believe an initiative of this caliber could immensely drive down the likelihood of many people coming in contact with the criminal justice system. By freeing up police personnel from writing citations, we can focus our efforts on stoping or mediating violent crime incidents. Refocusing our efforts while also implementing programs that do away with unnecessary citations is a way to ensure that people don’t come in contact with the judiciary for minor offenses.
2. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a pre-booking diversion program for drug-related offenses and for those suffering from mental health issues?
Clemons:
As stated above, issues related to drug use are of the upmost priority to me if elected to the Memphis City Council. Duly, as a Memphis Police Officer, I know that their are other tactics that can be used aside from arresting a victim of drug abuse. If elected, I will work collaboratively with local, state and federal leadership to ensure that we get increased funding for Memphis’ Mental Health Institute as well as Regional One Health so that we can aggressively tackle the Mental Health epidemic that faces our community.
3. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a policy to require transparency and democratic accountability before city agencies acquire new surveillance tools?
Clemons:
4. If elected or re-elected to the city council will you work to make stop and arrest data, including race and ethnicity data, available to the public quarterly?
Clemons:
5. If elected or re-elected to the city council what will you do to ensure a timely, transparent and independent investigation whenever an officer uses deadly force?
Clemons:
A Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board must happen to ensure a transparent government here in Memphis. Duly, we must work to help our community understand the role of police outside of these officer involved shooting situations. That means bringing back a more aggressive community policing standard in tandem with a CLERB. The ultimate goal is to build trust between police and citizens and vice versa.
6. Name 3 steps you would take as a council member to make the Community Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) more effective.
Clemons:
1) Quarterly meetings between CLERB members, city officials, and members of the local faith community to discuss areas where we are lacking in transparency.
2) An online archive of non classified case materials for the sake of transparency.
3) A budget line item for a CLERK Liaison who will work to strengthen relationships between the CLERB and the MPD.
7. Would you support policies, programs or initiatives to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline?
Clemons:
By putting more funding into ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training for police and judicial personnel, we can hopefully come up with a countywide plan to divert youth away from the judicial system. Also, a citywide audit must be done to ensure that in no way is Memphis invested in the prison industrial complex; if Memphis is, we must divest.
8. What does criminal justice reform mean to you?
Clemons:
Criminal Justice Reform for me means having an effective and cohesive relationship between police and those that we protect. Right now, there is so much of a “then against us,” mentality that it becomes very hard to serve those you are licensed to serve while also a having positive impact outside of your law enforcement duties. We must reestablish community partnerships and bonds between citizens and police to have criminal justice reform.
