After serving Durham for five years as its police chief, C.J. Davis is leaving the Bull City.
On Monday, it was announced by the City of Memphis, Tennessee, that Davis had been hired as its new chief of police. She is the first woman to lead the department, according to .
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced the appointment of Davis . She is expected to be confirmed in May by the city council.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the right person to lead this department here in Memphis,鈥� Strickland said. 鈥淪he has an outstanding career in law enforcement as an officer and as a leader. She has a strategic vision for reducing violent crime and she has a record of building relationships with the communities she serves. So, I鈥檓 excited about this appointment.鈥�
Memphis made it known that Davis interviewed and was a finalist for the job earlier this month.
During the broadcast on YouTube where the announcement was revealed, Deidre Malone 鈥� the CEO of the Carter Malone Group who served as a host during the announcement 鈥� pointed out that Davis was one of the last people to enter the candidate pool for the job. She was chosen over several local candidates and others from around the country.
鈥淎ll the candidates talked about reducing crime and their record; they鈥檙e all great police officers,鈥� Strickland said. 鈥淏ut Chief Davis, I think, has a unique quality. She was near the very top of the Atlanta Police Department鈥� And then ran a department in Durham and was really, frankly, the only candidate who ran a department during the pandemic.鈥�
Durham police chief CJ Davis was announced this morning as the new police chief of Memphis.
— Jason deBruyn (@jasondebruyn)
With a population of 650,000, Memphis is about 2.5x the size of Durham
Durham City Manager Wanda Page Davis informed her of her resignation on Sunday. It is effective on June 11.
鈥淲hile I am sad to see her leave, I am excited for the next chapter of her extraordinary career,鈥� Page said. 鈥淗er five-year tenure in Durham has been transformative.鈥�
Page noted that Davis created two new sworn positions within Durham鈥檚 police department: the Hispanic Outreach Liaison Officer and the LGBTQ Liaison Officer. Both positions are aimed at improving relationships with those communities. Page also added that an interim police chief will be named 鈥渋n the coming days鈥� and the search for a new police chief is a 鈥渉igh priority鈥� that could take between 60 to 120 days.
Davis was hired in Durham in April 2016 after serving as the Deputy Chief of Atlanta鈥檚 police department. She has been in law enforcement for more than 35 years. She garnered national attention last year when she called for police reform following the death of George Floyd. On ABC鈥檚 she said, 鈥渢here have been years and years of systemic racism in law enforcement.鈥� Davis was previously the president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
In Memphis, Davis will replace Michael Rallings, who is retiring this month.
The Commercial Appeal notes that Memphis鈥� police department has 鈥渟truggled to retain officers and is operating below its budgeted complement鈥� and saw a record 332 homicides last year.
On Monday, Davis called her appointment in Memphis a 鈥渃areer achievement.鈥�
鈥淚 have a great appreciation for the city of Memphis,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚 know the history of Memphis鈥� I have the opportunity to lead a large agency, which I feel like I鈥檓 qualified to do.鈥�
