CITY

Strickland chides police union for 'harmful' billboards

Ryan Poe
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland called out the Memphis Police Association on Wednesday for launching a "harmful" billboard campaign trumpeting the city's record-high homicide tally in 2016 and officer shortage.

Targeting interstates and major intersections, the union placed more than 10 billboards across the city reading, "Welcome to Memphis: 228 homicides in 2016, down over 500 police officers." The union also plans to run television commercials with the information. Union president Mike Williams declined to say how much the group was planning to spend on advertising.

The billboard campaign is the latest in a series of controversial advertisements in recent years by the union, which is about to begin labor contract negotiations with the city and hopes to pressure on Strickland to restore employee benefits.

"This is us just trying to hold on to our livelihood," Williams said.

Strickland said the union is "purposely trying to depress" the city's revenues with the campaign, which hurts the city's finances and ultimately the city's police officers.

"The signs the association put up in the city are bad for the city. They serve no useful purpose," Strickland said of the billboards. "They ought to be taken down."

Responding to Strickland's criticism, Williams said the city should put its employees before tourism. "Is the billboard more harmful than the crime that's actually occurring in the city?"

The Memphis City Council cut benefits deeply in recent years following approval of a state law requiring the city to annually contribute the full amount required to fully fund its pension system by 2020 — an amount pegged at $58 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year. Officers and firefighters leaving for other jobs have regularly cited the cuts as a reason for their resignations.

Police officers would have "battered wives syndrome" if they didn't speak out after the cuts, said Williams, who ran unsuccessfully against Strickland for mayor in 2015.

"That's not right — so if we can only put up billboards, so be it," Williams said.

Early Wednesday, Strickland said the union was good at pointing out problems but had offered nothing in the way of solutions — a comment that provoked union leaders to call a press conference Wednesday afternoon. They said Strickland already has a solution — he just doesn't want to make the financial sacrifices required to restore officers' benefits.

"Now he wants the MPA to tell him how to pay for it," according to a union statement read by labor contract negotiations lead Matt Cunningham. "In addition to lacing up our boots and taking these criminals off the street, the mayor wants us to do his job and prepare the city budget."

The union actually did float several possible solutions for consideration, including a public safety tax, higher taxes on hotel stays and reprioritizing operating funds — "whatever" action was necessary to restore benefits.

Strickland said the city would have to raise its property tax rate by a sharp 35-50 cents if it restores benefits — a move he doesn't think city residents support.

But Strickland said he was committed to paying officers more, likely indicating the city will offer a raise during labor negotiations. The city and unions must reach an agreement by April 1 to avoid final arbitration by the council.

Asked what the union's next billboard would read, Williams laughed. "There is more coming, so please stay tuned."