Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis: Memphis top cop led controversial REDDOG Unit in Atlanta before it was dissolved
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, who is currently under fire after severe beating and the death of Tyre Nichols by her police officers, has earlier also faced controversy for leading the infamous REDDOG Unit while serving in Atlanta. The Memphis police chief formed a unit, called SCORPION, two years ago, consisting of 40 cops. But it was shut down after Nichols died on January 10 because of alleged police brutality. It has been said that three of the five officers involved in the alleged assault were from the SCORPION team.
Like SCORPION, REDDOG was also deactivated over a decade ago after allegations of “excessive force” and “police brutality” came to light, The Daily Mail reported. The page of Davis on the website of the Memphis Police Department also mentions that. It states, “As a Commander, she led the Special Operations Section, which included SWAT, Mounted Patrol, Motors, Helicopter Unit, Vice & Narcotics, REDDOG Unit, all Federal Task Force Officers, HIDTA Task Force, Cyber Crimes, Gangs & Guns, and the Surveillance Unit.”
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In 2011, Mayor Kasim Reed ended REDDOG after cops of the unit raided a gay bar in September 2009 after receiving tips on illegal drug use and sex. They also reportedly took severe measures against those present there, which led to a federal lawsuit. A year later, the city of Atlanta had to give $1.025 million to the complainers.
‘They are unchecked doom squads’
Now, activist Hunter Dempster, who is an organizer with Decarcerate Memphis, has compared the two infamous police units. He told DailyMail.com, “They are literally an oppression force. The trust between the citizens and the police in Memphis is about as bad as you could ever imagine in a Metropolitan city. They are unchecked doom squads that can do whatever they want. Davis' REDDOG unit was disbanded, so how are you going to take the same premise of a disbanded unit to your new job?”
Dempster continued saying, “Davis is doing her best to say all the best social justice buzzwords and accountability – but she is just giving lip service and empty promises and trying to make herself look good,” before adding, “It shouldn't take someone dying for something to happen. They are violent bullies who pull you over, wave a gun in your face, and beat you up. They terrorize poor black and brown communities.”
‘Heavy cross to bear’
This comes as Davis spoke with ‘Good Morning America’ and said, “As we continue to try to build trust with our community, this is a very, very heavy cross to bear -- not just for our department but for departments across the country. Building trust is a day-by-day interaction between every traffic stop, every encounter with the community. We all have to be responsible for that and it's going to be difficult in the days to come.”
Besides, after the discontinuation of the SCORPION, the department stated that it “remains committed to serving our community and taking every measure possible to rebuild the trust that has been negatively affected,” because of the January 7 incident. It also added, “While the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonor on the title SCORPION, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department take proactive steps in the healing process for all impacted.”