Memphis police chief verbally reprimanded after duty weapon stolen from car

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis was verbally reprimanded after her duty weapon was stolen by smash and grab car thieves.

The handgun’s storage in that vehicle was a violation of department policy.

According to the incident report, a Porsche driven by Davis’s husband was broken into Jan. 8 while parked outside a retail store on Macon Station in Cordova. Davis’ secondary duty weapon was stored in a lockbox under a seat and was stolen along with other personal items.

According to department policy posted online, “Placing or locking a weapon in a glove compartment or trunk should not be considered safe in itself. However, a secured device such as a gun safe, which is fixed and attached to the vehicle, would be a safe measure.”

Officials say Davis’ lockbox was not bolted to the vehicle.

Davis released the following statement Wednesday evening:

“I did have my gun stored in a lockbox in a locked vehicle; however, I lacked securing the lockbox to the car with a cable as stated in MPD policy. A report was taken, and the investigation remains ongoing as to the person(s) responsible. The Mayor has spoken with me regarding the incident, and I have accepted accountability.”

A department spokesperson says corrective action for violating policy ranges from oral counseling up to termination.

Copyright 2022 WMC. All rights reserved.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.