Judge finds fault in Memphis police

A federal judge has ordered the Memphis Police Department to bolster its policies and training in a ruling that found the agency had violated a court order prohibiting officers from watching protesters and monitoring their social media accounts.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee hailed Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla as a victory for free speech rights. The city acknowledged that the judge believes “we can do better, and we agree.”

McCalla said in his ruling that the ACLU had presented “clear and convincing” evidence that the city had violated a federal consent decree barring the city from engaging in political surveillance. The 1978 order followed disclosures that police spied on civil-rights activists.

The judge’s ruling came in an ACLU-filed lawsuit that claimed the Memphis Police Department engaged in improper surveillance of activists associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups.

Activists testified during an August trial that they were intimidated by members of the Police Department who kept a close eye on them using several methods, including following their movements and spying on their social media activity.

The judge said in his ruling that there were a “significant number of violations” of the decree.

To guarantee compliance with the decree, the judge ordered the city to revise regulations and bolster training for officers.

ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said the ruling ensures that activists in Memphis “can continue to fight the good fight without fear of unwarranted police surveillance.”