For years, Memphis police officers assigned to the Mt. Moriah station worked out of a cramped, aging facility that often lacked the tools they needed to do their jobs. On Tuesday, many of those same men and women celebrated as city leaders cut the ribbon on a new $9.2 million precinct designed with them and the community they serve in mind.
“This is the new home of our officers who deserve a new house,” said Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis. “So give them a round of applause. We appreciate the work that they do. I know Mount Moriah officers are hardworking officers, just like all the other officers in the city, but these guys and gals, they have a whole lot of determination and grit.”
The state-of-the-art station, years in the making, includes motion-sensor LED lighting, individual climate controls and expanded workspace to accommodate investigative units and task forces. It also features multipurpose rooms for neighborhood watch meetings, town halls and training sessions, making it as much a community hub as a police headquarters.
Mayor Paul Young called the new facility “more than bricks and mortar.”
“This is an investment in safety, service and trust in our communities,” Young said. “It strengthens the connection between law enforcement and the people that they serve. Every Memphian deserves to feel protected, deserves to feel respected and deserves to feel valued. Our officers here are partners, they’re neighbors and they’re allies in creating a safer city.”
Col. Frank Winston, who commands the Mt. Moriah station and grew up nearby, said the building represents progress on two fronts — supporting officers while reinforcing bonds with residents.
“As a native Memphian with family who lives right here in Mount Moriah, this community has been very special to me,” Winston said. “As commander of Mount Moriah, I see the focus and hard work these officers bring every day. They are dedicated not only to law enforcement, but also to building strong relationships with the people they serve. As Chief Davis said, this new station isn’t just for our officers, it’s for all of us.”
‘Smart precinct’ for a safer Memphis
Major Adam Merritt, the MPD project manager who oversaw construction, described the new station as a “smart precinct” with energy-efficient systems and modern technology.
“All the lights are motion sensor, so once they don’t have any more motion in the room, the lights are cut off, and they’re all LED,” Merritt explained. “Each space inside the station has its own individual climate control. If there’s a particular area not being used at night, then that system will start shutting down and therefore we’re saving on energy.”
The precinct also includes a gym, dedicated offices for investigative units and holding areas built into the design. “On the previous builds, we didn’t have space dedicated for them [investigators],” Merritt said. “They’ve kind of just been squeezed into space. So in this build, we actually have a dedicated office space for task force officers and our General Investigation Bureau.”
The older Mt. Moriah building will not be demolished. City leaders plan to repurpose it for additional public safety offices.
Crime trending down
The opening comes at a time when crime in the Mt. Moriah area is showing significant declines. According to MPD figures, overall crime in the area is down nearly 29 percent year-to-date, with double-digit drops in nearly every major category: murders down 46 percent, robberies down 20 percent, burglaries down 28 percent and motor vehicle thefts down nearly 38 percent.
Citywide, officials also point to “20- and 25-year lows in robberies and burglaries,” Davis noted.
“We’re not taking victory laps, because it’s not time for that,” she added. “But we are moving in a positive direction.”
A boost for officers
City officials emphasized that while the station is a win for community engagement, it’s also a much-needed boost for the people who put on the badge every day. Merritt noted the new gym, upgraded offices and modern technology were designed with officers’ well-being in mind.
“For one, we have a gym in this building, which we didn’t have in the other building,” Merritt said. “So when it’s completely fitted out, officers actually can work out before or after their shifts, or whenever they deem necessary.”
For Davis, that investment in the people on the front lines may be the most important part. “Anytime officers’ morale is up, anytime they feel good, they work better. They work harder.”
