Officers Chris Freeman & Shonda Brooks

The Memphis Police Department is looking for the Best in Blue says MPD Recruiters Officers Chris Freeman and Shonda Brooks on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Seventy w d I A live fromthe Reeves Law Firm Studio nine oh one,
five oh four, forty four,forty four. Let us be your
voice, Be your voice dot comshow the time time with this talking and
home away you go? You go, Sonking, ready in time to show.

(00:28):
Joe, let's go jhing Well,make your dame right here on your
all. You d to listen towhat to say? You know it's time
of about to fish show. Timeof the bout show. Let's go.

(01:02):
Wow, that's just show. They'llup this time with this talking and home
away. How you go? Yougo, soaking ready in time to show.

(01:32):
Let's go, They'll justhing well,make your day right here on ther
all. You d to listen towhat to fake? You know it's time
of the belfish show. Time ofthe show. Let's go. We are

(01:53):
rocking and rolling on this Monday,June fifth, twenty twenty three. Enjoy
this fabulous day today. It's ahot one already in Memphis, Tennessee.
Hope you're doing well wherever you maybe. As I said earlier, we
have Memphis finest back in the housewith me. Let me introduce to you

(02:15):
our guests from the Memphis Police Department. We have Officer Chris Freeman in the
house and Officer Shanda Brooks. Goodafternoon, lady and gentlemen. How are
y'all this day? Fine? Y'alldo it? Y'all ain't hot a nothing.

(02:38):
I was a free when you likeyou're doing. Okay, I'm doing
it all right, you're doing okay, I'm bruis y'all okay, man,
all right, all right, allright. I'm glad to have y'all up
in this house once again, andonce again, as our listener Lady D
would say, Memphis Finest, y'allare back, but y'all need some more
Memphis Finest right away to me.Officer Freeman talk to me this day.

(03:01):
So it's their time again, okay. And we're here to make sure that
we let everybody know that our hiringexpo is on Saturday, June tenth,
at one seventy north of Maine,Okay, from eleven am to three pm.
So we're encouraging everyone who's interested inbecoming the best in blue to come
out and fellowship with us, learnabout the job, and get their hiring

(03:23):
process started for the job. Now, y'all still looking for folks, yes,
ma'am. The last the last timeyou all were here. How did
that go? I know you hadthe expo when people come out, how
how did it go? Absolutely,it was a success. It's always a
success. So we you know,we get to spend time with the people
that's interested in and ask you questionsthat a lot of people sometimes are afraid

(03:46):
to ask until they get in frontof us. So it was definitely a
success to last time. So we'rehoping for the same, if not better
turn out. So as always whenwe talk about recruitment, Officer Freeman,
that you are always I love this. You're looking for the best in blue.
But it's crucial time because you allneed more officers now correct, yes,

(04:08):
ma'am. But one to make surethat when we do hire, that
we do hire those of good moralcharacter and those who have the heart for
service and the heart for the city. That's important. Art for service,
heart for the city. Yes,ma'am. Okay, I want to get
Officer Brooks in here. And beinga female Hong you've been with the Memphis

(04:30):
Police Department, Yes, ma'am.So, I've been with the department fifteen
years, fifteen wanted for years.I've been enjoying it ever since I've been
on the department, and matter offact, we're looking for women. You're
looking for, yes, ma'am.So we have the pledge calls thirty by
thirty. So the goal is tothe initial goal is to increase the representative

(04:50):
of women by thirty percent police recruitclass by twenty twenty three. That's our
goal. So right now, OfficerBrooks, how many women would you say
is on the Memphis Police Department.Good questions. So right now we have
at least four hundred and eight policewomen on the department U sixty five sixty

(05:13):
two corrections, sixt or two offemale whites, three hundred and twenty five
African American females, and we havelike eighteen Hispanics and three others. So
our goal is to at least tryto get as men and women women as
possible. Right now we at nineteenpercent. Okay, so what you need
more, yes, ma'am, wewant to reach their thirty percent. Someone's

(05:34):
listening, Officer Brooks, and andand a female is listening, and they
may have the question is is itis it hard to once you come and
sign up, is it hard toadjust the training because people some people may
not can get into the training,right. So the training is in our

(05:57):
hard It's all about what you believein. You have to have heart to
be an officer, especially a femaleofficer. So once you come in,
myself and officer freemen, we pt instructors. So our goal is to
get you physically fit, even ifyou're not in shape. Our goal is
to get you there. So onceyou get accepted into the training academy,

(06:17):
we're going to help you get whereyou need to be even if you're not
in shape or think you have thedrive for shape. Now, don't you
have to be in some kind ofwell, some people you do have to
be in shape, but unfortunately everyonethat applies not in shape. Right,

(06:38):
So our goal is to try toget you where you need to be in
order to graduate as a Memphis Policeofficer. Okay, so right now,
looking for women, yes, man, we're looking for anybody that has to
drive, the skills, the determination, the moral character. We're looking for
everybody that's come join us. Yes, I'm glad you said moral character because

(07:04):
I think that's very important days.Yes, ma'am. Integrity, we need
it all, We need it all. Yes, Oh, yes, yes,
yes, and so, Officer Freeman, the last time you were here
you talked about that. I knowyou and tell our listeners how long you've
been on the force. It's beeneight years for me now, I've been
on the police barns for eight yearsof them. I started out at the

(07:27):
Austin p station and I did allthe way up into twenty twenty one there.
That's when I moved to the trainingacademy in background and recruiting. And
the last time you were here,you you told me that you enjoyed Oh,
I love it. I love it. See I like you said,
you love your job. I loveit. It's I've never worked the day

(07:48):
of my life since I've been onthis department. Haven't worked today. I
enjoyed getting up, I enjoyed thecitizens. I enjoyed the people that I
work with. It's amazing. It'sthe best decisions I've ever made. Wow.
So someone's listening and they may bethinking about that, they may want
to be a police officer. Whatcan our listeners expect when they come to

(08:16):
the job expo? Okay this weekend, let's let's talk about that. I
mean, what what? What canthey expect? Great questions? So they
can expect to meet several different typesof specialized units in a department. Of
course, they're going to meet us, and they're gonna be able to get
of I want to say a firstperson insight into how the academy is,

(08:39):
what the job is, and thenas we push forwarth through the expo,
they'll be able to complete their applicationand complete the first round of pre higher
testing. Okay, who is itthat you all will not accept? Because
I think that's important. Who isit that you won't accept at the expo?
They're just asking who? Yeah,because of someone's coming out and they

(09:01):
say that, well, I needa job until let me do this,
But some people can't. Everybody can'tget jobs. And I'm asking, Okay,
I'm just gonna be clear. Ifa person as a criminal record and
they're coming out looking for a job, what depends on the record? Does
it actually depends on the record.You must have a valid driver's license.
That's what That's what the main thingis for the expo. You have to

(09:22):
have I'm glad you said so,y'all listening. You have to have a
valid driver's license. So that's thefirst thing, yes, ma'am. Okay,
you can't have a criminal you can'thave a criminal record. But it
depends on the record. You can'thave any felony convictions, okay, can't
have any any felon Yes, soit's okay. It depends on the type

(09:43):
of arrisk. Okay, some peoplebe afraid because of the type of risks
exactly. So that's allow us,Yes, allow us to make that determination
and to be able to determine accordingto your arrest. So we do have
people that's afraid, So don't beafraid. Just apply. I'm joining us
one seventy North Maine, and you'llbe able to speak with us on site

(10:05):
and we'll be able to explain andhelp them good process. Yes, So
so that that people will be there, the recruiters that they can talk with
these applicants. Yes, so soyou will. You will know or they
will know what to expect. Thefirst thing again, y'all don't come out
if you don't have a valid driver'slicense. Right, I'm just I'm just

(10:28):
being real, Hey, I meanyou may not. You can't say it.
I can say it. If youdon't have a valid driver's license,
y'all don't be going there because I'msure you've had people who've come out who
was looking for a job and didn'thave a driver's license. Man, So
we do have those that come outwithout a valid drive's license, but we

(10:48):
also assist them on how to goby getting a valid driver's Oh goody good.
Yeah, we help them out becausewe still allow them to come in
and speak with us as well,because just because they don't have a license
at the moment, we don't wantthe interest to being the best in Blue
to go away. So it's notthat we're gonna kick you out the door,

(11:11):
but in order to apply, yes, you must have driver's license.
Okay, good, And a lotof them have questions in regards to their
driving history. So we're able toassist them with their driving history and let
them let them know what they needto do and how they need to go
back clearing up their driving history soundsgood. Yes, if you've just tuned
in this afternoon, we are talkingto the best in Blue with me this

(11:37):
afternoon. We have officers Chris Freemanand Shonda Brooks. They are here getting
ready for the expo of this weekend. Will continue to talk. I have
questions for them, Yeah I do, Yeah, I do you want to
be the best in blue. Youcan all you need that ballet driver.

(11:58):
Well, come back, we'll continueour conversation with the best in blue and
me Bev Johnson on the Bev JohnsonShow only on w d i A.

(12:18):
Ladies and gentlemen, you're listening tothe Queen of talk, Bev Johnson on
w d i A talking to thebest in a Blue Memphis finance from the

(12:39):
Memphis Police Department Officer Chris Freeman,Officers Shanda Brooks, and we're talking about
the hiring expo coming up this weekendand Officer Freeman, you're looking for that
best in blue. Absolutely, We'reexcited to meet everybody who is interesting becoming
a police officer, and we wantto make sure that we streamline the process

(13:03):
easy as possible. We want toask when people come out, Officer Freeman,
and they sign up, they'll signup and go through that, when
will they know that they have beenaccepted? So how does that process good?
That's a good question. So itis a process, Okay, it
is it. We try to makeit as fast as possible. But of

(13:26):
course everybody's background is different, andI get to that in just a second.
So once once you apply the firstthing you will do if you come
to the expo will be take aRidden test. After you take the Ridden
test, if you're successful, youwill come in and do intake. So
what intake is is when they come, we go through your application, We
go through your documents and make sureyou meet one of the three qualifications.

(13:48):
Those qualifications are twenty four credit hoursof college, two years as military,
or two years of work history partor full time. And then once we
go through intaking, you success completeand take you be assigned a background investigator.
And that's where most times if yourprocess slows up, that's where it
will slow up at because everybody,everybody's background is different. It depends on

(14:11):
where you've lived, how many jobsyou've worked, or we go through everything.
So after that, there's a psychologicaltest two parts, and then there's
a medical examination, and once you'resuccessful through those, that's when you will
get your final job off. Okay, go back all the way back to
one of the things you said whenyou apply. Are you saying that we

(14:35):
want to be clear on this Beforeyou apply, you must have some college
hours or been to college, orjust it's good to have a high school
diploma. So we will need thehigh school diploma, but then it's going
to be an and so it's thehigh school diploma and twenty four credit hours
or high school diploma and two yearsof military or high school diploma and two

(14:58):
years of work history. So there'salways and yeah, yes man, Okay,
I want to be clear on that. Another thing again, are you
still looking or do you? Areyou looking for pSTS? Always yes,
So whenever we have sprain that toour listeners, when we see the pSTS
out and I've taught a lot ofpSTS, but tell us about the PST.

(15:24):
So the PSTSUM, PST stands forPolice Service Technicians. Okay, So
they're the ones that's out in thewhite cars with the yellow bar. They
help us assist with our traffic accidents. Um. So, pSTS is a
good career to start. I wasa PST when I started. Um it's

(15:45):
a it's a jump on the career. It's a good field to be in
to start out for those who areeighteen. So we had gears towards eighteen
to maybe twenty two, and thoseare the ones coming straight out of high
school with no edge. We dosend you to school to get your college
hours. That's in case you don'thave it as a PST. And yeah,

(16:08):
it's it's a good field to bein to start out. I'm smiling
Officer Brooks when you said, Ididn't know you would send them there to
school, because when I said,I taught a lot of young women and
men at Southwest Tennessee Community College.Best your best choice. It's part of
our program. So that's so so, so Southwest is a part of that

(16:30):
programs ma'am. Okay, so weactually seen you to Southwest as a PST.
So once you um cumulate twenty fourhours, okay, we recycle you
back in because Police Service Technician isnot designed to be permanent. It's designed
that was my next question. Yes, yes, it's not not a permanent

(16:51):
NOMAICI. So how long do youwork as a PST depends on the individual.
Depends on how many hours. SoI'm come in with no hours,
so it depends on how many hours. You're twenty four hours if you reach
your twenty four hours, some comein with no hours, So it depends
on the individual. Okay, yes, okay, So that's a good place
to start, especially parents who arelistening they just had a child graduate from

(17:18):
high school. Have no plans,not thinking about anything to do. Starting
as a PST would be a goodopportunity to be a good opportunity. Yes,
yes, because some young kids atthe age of eighteen don't know,
they don't start in the Memphis PoliceDepartment would be a great start, okay,
as a PST. And so thenonce you get once you go through
the PST program, get your hours, then you'll you can jump into being

(17:42):
a Memphis police officer. Or doyou have to go through more No,
ma'am. So the training, onceyou complete your twenty four hours, we
count your hours to make sure youqualify. Once we determine that you qualified,
then you come back in as apolice recruit. So you start out
for six weeks there's a PST,you graduate, go into the field.

(18:03):
That's when your career, that's whenyour education starts. Once you graduate as
a PST. So once you reachyour hours, we bring you back in
and we start you at week seven. So that means you don't have to
start over from scratch, okay,because we already have your attention as a
police service technician. Good, yes, and we train you to be a
police officer. So those people theeighteen year olds now listening, they are

(18:26):
able to come to the hiring expoon Saturday as well, or no,
absolutely they can't, yes, ma'am, oh good, yes, ma'am good.
Good. Now again, tell uswhere it's happening. One seventy North
Maine, which is the police headquarters? Okay, one seventy North Maine.

(18:48):
What about that Saturday now, Officerfree wom people are saying, that's downtown.
What about the parking? Okay,see we get the couple. We
thought of almost everything. Okay,okay, the part it's gonna be free
parking in the garage at Poplar Front, so you can park your cards there.
It's gonna be free of charge.Very good. And the hours again,

(19:10):
eleven am to three pm. Elevento three yes, ma'am again,
they need to bring what a valuedrivers license? Please? Please value driver's
license? Good? Good? Anythingelse? Officer brooks that we need to
know about the hiring expo on Saturday. Yes, So for those of you

(19:32):
who's interested, we're offering a fifteendollars sign on bonus. You said fifteen
dollars fifteen thousand, don't say correction, No, I ain't coming out.
I'm sorry, no again fifteen thousandsign on bonus sign on ball, Yes,

(19:52):
ma'am. Yes, so if yousign on well, and if you
get called, if you get hired, hired, you get hired, we're
offering a fifteen thousand sign on.It sounds good. Anything else they need
to know, yes, Also bemindful of the college incentive, so once
you get hired, we do.We have a five percent college incentive for
those who have a bachelor's degree asocialists degree, I'm sorry, and a

(20:18):
seven point five percent if you havea bachelor's degree. So they increase your
salary depending on your degree, andwe also offer a ten percent for your
master's. Oh very good, Ilike that. Yes, I don't know,
Offenser Freeman. I don't know ifI ask you this question the last
time you were here, but Ithink it's a valid question. Does a

(20:40):
person getting ready to come to theexpo and want to apply for a job
do they have to be a residentof City of Memphis or Shelby County.
No, they do not. Actually, I'm glad you said that too,
because it also we offer up toten thousand dollars in a relocation assistance.
Up to ten thousand dollars if youare hired, and you have to someone

(21:02):
who's listening today this afternoon because youyou've been heard all over brother. Okay,
someone's in California listening. Yes,they can come and apply. Someone
in Arkansas, Mississippi. I geta little closer. Yeah, yeah,
they can come and apply, butit is up to ten thousand dollars.
If you have to relocate from let'ssay, from California to the city of

(21:22):
Memphis, we will. We willhelp assist you up to ten thousand dollars.
Very good. I like that.Man, someone's listening says, I
may want to move to Memphis.Who wouldn't. I like that answer,
brother, I like that answer.Who would? Who wouldn't? Very good?
Very good? Any other last words? I'll start with offenses. Shana
Brooks, you want to tell ourlisteners about the hiring expo this Saturday.

(21:48):
Yes, so come out and joinus. We'll be there on site.
We'll be glad to assist anyone.Come join the best in Blue. We
hear um. You can also contactus at six three six seventeen eighty seven.
We also can be reached online jointMPD dot com. We do recommend
for you too, if you interestedin the application. Do an application on

(22:12):
a desktop computer and not a cellphone. Do it on the desktop,
so they can go to the websiteand look at all that joint MPD dot
com. You can found all theinformation that you need to assist with throughout
the process. Okay, this isone question, Officer Freeman. So someone's
listening and they're coming to apply,and it says, well, you know,
I would like to be a Memphispolice officer, but all I want

(22:34):
to do is have a disk job. Can't do that, and it doesn't
quite work. I'm just as itdoesn't. Get that question a lot.
But no, I tell I tellmy listeners, I tell my students,
no question is a stupid or dumbquestion. So that was a good question

(22:55):
because I was thinking, if Iwant to come and apply, I said
I, all I want to dois a dish answer. The phone ain't
gonna happen. No, not yet. You have to be a police officer.
You have to do all that andthen that will come later. It
may, it may all right,last words, Officer Freeman, you'd like
to say to our listeners. Yeah, so of course we look forward to

(23:18):
seeing show up at the expo onSaturday. Okay, one seventy North Main
tenth eleven, eight to three pAnd if you can't make it to the
expo, you can still apply onlineat joint MPD dot com. Sounds good.
Good to have both of you allhere. Good meeting you, Officer
Brooks for the first time, afreeman innery time. I look at you.
You look like my nephew. Yeshe is, y'all, may be

(23:42):
twin. I'm telling you you looklike him. Okay, Oh my god,
I'm gonna show you a picture.I'm gonna show you his picture.
All right, Thank you all.Thank you all for being here. You
never know suching you never doubt.Thank you Collins. Thank you my listeners
for joining us this day on theBEV Johnson Show. We do, we

(24:03):
really do appreciate you. So untiltomorrow, please be safe, cable cool
ahead, y'all, don't let anyonesteal your joy. Until tomorrow. I'm
Bev Johnson, and y'all keep thepain. The views and opinions discussed on

(24:27):
The Bev Johnson Show are that ofthe hosts and callers, and not those
of the staff and sponsors of wTIA.