June 30, 2025 • 32 mins
We are talking with the new Memphis Public Safety Czar Darren Goods on The Bev Johnson Show on
WDIA Radio.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Bell, doesn't show Bell, Top Time Memphis Talking and Home Away,
Help you go, you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Go, don't getting ready.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
In time?
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Say show Bell, Joe, Let's go Bell doesn't will make yourdy.
Speaker 5 (00:28):
By here d.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Listen to what to say.
Speaker 6 (00:35):
You know it's time of the belt of this show,
Tap of the Mountain, show Lucky, Let's go.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Good afternoon, and welcome into w d i A the
Heart and soul of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We're rocking and rolling on this.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Monday, June the thirtieth, twenty twenty five. Stick close with
your ears on. Have a very special guest in the studio.
Will tell you about him, but always y'all know the deal.
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(01:14):
soul food around fifteen forty two Elvis Presley.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
They're open today.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, they are Mondays, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Closed on Tuesday and you get fifteen twenty centt off
today for veterans and seniors and city and county employees.
Go by get some of their famous soul food, miss
and famous chitlins. An assortment of desserts there. You can
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dine in or you can take out. Nine zero one
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Don't forget on Wednesdays it's karaoke night. I heard gon
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Speaker 2 (02:25):
It's a meeting greet.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
He's not gonna perform, but you baby, come and take
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Speaker 2 (02:30):
My boyfriend, mister.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
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Thursdays on this Thursday with John Disco Hound at the
rock and Chair of Neat and Greet. So come on
out and have a good time. I'm telling you it's
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Speaker 2 (03:13):
When you go there, y'all, you know what to say.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Tell him BEV Johnson sent you to the Rocking Chair
of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Fifteen forty two.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Elvis Presley, and welcome back to wd I A I
am excited to with this next guest. I haven't met
(03:43):
him before. He's new, but also y'all, he is with
the City of Memphis Public Safety Advisor, Memphis Public Safety ZAR.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Come tell me what all it is talking about.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Please welcome in for the first time to do WDIA.
I'm the BEB Johnson, Joe, mister Darren Goods.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
How you doing, mister.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Goods, I'm doing fantastic. Good to have you here, Glad
to be here. You know, it's kind of crazy because
of all the TV shows and all the interviews that
I've given throughout my career. I think my parents would
be more proud of me at this very moment than
all the other interviews that I've done collectively.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
So I thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh, I thank you, thank you for that. That is
so sweet. That is so sweet. Well, mister Goods, I
have to ask you, what is this this Memphis public
safety advisor, Memphis public what And I have to say,
we need some safety in this city. So tell me
about your position with the City of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
What is this about.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
So Mayor Young's public safety advisor is advise him on
all things, primarily violent crime, but primarily looking at gun
crime and violent crime.
Speaker 7 (04:56):
And we want to take a.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Whole realistic look at how we respond to violent crime,
and that is engaging all of the local law enforcement
to be local, state, federal law enforcement agencies. How do
we bring those resources to bear on addressing the violent
crime that we have in Memphis. Not only that, we've
taken a look at what are the root causes of
(05:21):
violent crime. I think that your callers will will agree
that one of the root calls of violent crime is poverty.
I mean, this city, you know, struggles financially in some areas,
and oftentimes poverty kind of leads one to do things
that they would normally do and that can and that's
(05:42):
kind of get involved with criminal activity. So then what
do we do to combat that, Because, look, we can't
arrest our way out of this. We didn't get into
this situation overnight, and we're not going to get out
of overnight. We need a as I heard the other day,
a whole of government. We need a whole of Memphis
to be actively engaged in every aspect of our pursuit
(06:09):
to reduce violent crime in the city. So, in addition
to kind of galvanizing everyone in the law enforced community,
also Mayor Young has charged me with looking at the
public sector, the churches, the clergy, you name it, the
CBOs or community debase organization. How do we leverage all
(06:32):
of those resources to really bring to bear on reducing
violent crime.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
So that's the reader's digest version.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Okay, that seems like like not much, but that is
a daunting task, especially, you know, knowing the situation that
you know, the violent crime that the Memphis has kind
of been plagued with over the last several years. But
but I mean, we're we're ready to go to work,
roll off, sleeves up, and it's time to get busy.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I should have asked you before I asked about what
is this public safety, But do you have experience in
law enforcement and a little bit about your background.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Yes, ma'am, so I am. I'm a native Memphis, Okay
native native.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
I love this city. I bleed blue. I Memphis blew
through and through. I graduated from the best high school
in the country, the Lord south Side.
Speaker 7 (07:25):
I'm on south Side, Scrappers, the south Side.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
God bless absolutely aster, God bless Willie mister Johnson, who was,
I mean, just a pill of the community.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
He was a principal south Side.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
I was very fortunate also to graduate from the lamorna
On College HBCU, the Magicians, and I spent about almost
thirty six years as a police officer in Memphis, rose
through the ranks, and when I retired in twenty twenty,
I retired as a colonel and I was responsible for,
you know, all of the investigations that occurring in the
(08:01):
city of Memphis. I've worked pretty much every level of
law enforcement from traffic. Started as a nineteen year old PST.
Right out of Marine Corps boot camp who came home
and joined the police department. I rode through the ranks, sergeant,
worked in the robbery bureau. I've worked in a homicide bureau.
I've been very blessed to have supervised some some really
(08:23):
good teams within the MPD. I've worked with some tremendous people.
I've met some tremendous people my ten uere in Memphis,
and then in twenty twenty, I retired as a colonel
and I went to work for the Department of Children's
Services as the deputy director for the Office of Juvenile Justice.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
So I kind of explained it this year this way.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I spent roughly thirty five almost thirty six years placing
people in custy to put handcuffs on people and send.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Them to jails, to the majunial court.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I spent four almost four and a half years with
DCS on the receiving end of those young people. Totally
different perspective, totally different perspective. I knew and I understood
the plight of some young people and why they made
some decisions that they've made. But when you're on the
receiving end and now you're responsible for everything for that
(09:15):
young person, it's eye opening the amount of trauma that
our young people experienced at an early age, being exposed
to domestic violence at an early age and having a
loved one shot or injured, or having a parent of
both parents incarcerated.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
It makes you wonder.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
There's no wonder why some of the young people make
the bad decisions that they do. So on the DCS side,
we were able to kind of look at those systemic
causes then try to bring some relief to that and
give young people an opportunity.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Someone asked me my.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
First week at DCS, well, what is your vision for
juvenile justice program? I didn't have one, but at that
very moment, it wasn't me talking. It was God that
spoke through me and said, your trajectory is going to
be to change the lives of these young people, changed
their trajectory so that when they are discharged, they're in
(10:12):
a better position to succeed than they were when they
came in. And so those were not my words, those
were the words that at that moment God gave me,
and I fervently believed in that, and we worked every
day very diligently trying to make sure that we gave
young people an opportunity. Because I knew a lot of
young people that would coming in custody. We had a
lot of Chelby County kids and I wanted those young
(10:34):
people to come back and have an opportunity to succeed.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Oh good, good, Wow.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
So you know a little bit about law enforcement, just
a little bit, okay, And I'm glad you explained that
to our listeners because when people here published So, so,
what are you going to do?
Speaker 8 (10:48):
One of the things, mister good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
That is disturbing not only to me, but to residents
of this every day.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
It's a crime every read I don't and I don't
know what's going on. What's happening. You mentioned earlier one
of the things about crime is poverty.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
But you think you would think, mister goods that and
I always say this.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
People know right from Rome, don't.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
They Absolutely, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
But but let me preface this, Okay, there are there
are some people in this community that, regardless of what
opportunities that you avail to them, they're going to still
make really dumb decisions for whatever reasons. But those people
are in the minority. But because of the crimes that
(11:44):
they're committing, gets all the attention. It's like that old adage,
the squeaky wheel gets the oil. So they're the ones
that's making all the noise. They're the ones that's driving
the crime rate. They're the ones that's doing the shooting
and making and continue to make those decisions. Those are
the ones that we have to focus on. Those are
(12:05):
the ones that we really have to pay special attention to,
and then we have to do everything within our power
to take that to take those opportunities away from them,
and if that entails incarceration, then so be it. Then
that's what it need to be. But then there are
there are a big swath of the community that are
(12:26):
involved in in crime that there are there are very
specific reasons why they're doing that, and if they had
an opportunity, if they had an opportunity to feed their family,
to pay their bills, to keep the to keep the
utilities on, then they will make better decisions. Those are
(12:46):
the ones that we have to give a second and
third chance to and we have to give opportunity. We
have to expose them to opportunities, and that not just
locking them up, because we're not going to arrest our
way out of this.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
We have to give people.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
An opportunity, opportunity, but we also have to be very honest.
Like you said, there are those out there that you
know right from wrong and you make a conscientious decision
to do to do wrong, and then you have to
suspect that if you do wrong, then you have to
you have to suffer the consequences, whatever that they may be.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
And we law.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Enforcement in this community, uh, the entire community. I mean,
we have to galvanize together. We have to be in
my in my mind, I say, we have to be
one Memphis. We have to be Memphis strong. We can't
point the fingers. You know, the onness is on us.
The onness is on me. You know, Mayor Young thought
(13:45):
enough of me to hire me for this position. And
I think joh said it better than I probably should
have said. I'm to get in trouble. You know, I'm
from the m born and raised here. You know, we
climb up the chimney and so and so's. It's that
grit and grind kind of attitude that I think that
(14:06):
that we are that we are bringing to the table
to address the crime problems you're in Memphis.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Well, when you talked earlier, you said it's going to
take all of us.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
And we know in our.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Communities that we have neighborhood watch and we do those
things and we you we know police, Uh, you've you've been,
you worked for the Memphis Police Department, and we have
we have the cameras and stuff.
Speaker 8 (14:30):
But it seems like it's not enough because we have
all these things in place. I think the Memphis Police Department,
mister Goods, they do their job, They catch the criminal.
That's all I can do is lock them up and
go from But but what else?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And you mentioned one.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Thing and I want to talk about. You mentioned got
to get the churches involved.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Yes, ma'am, That's why I said, this is the the
only way we're going to get this. We have to
have the whole of Memphis, the whole of government, the
whole of it. If you live in this town, if
you love this town the way I love this town,
then it's time to roll your sleeves of and jump in.
There's no we do not have the luxury of standing
on the sideline anymore. There are thousands of churches in
(15:19):
this city. A lot of them are actively involved. I
know the Memphis Police Department has I can't think of
the name of the program, but basically it's a clergy
members that actually go through what they call the clergy academy.
So they go through multiple weeks in essence training of
(15:41):
what the Memphis Police officers to kind of training they
go through and then they see, you know, from the inside,
the operational aspect of the Memphis Police Department, and then
they I think they get a better understanding of of
some of the limitations that police have, but they also
get a you know, get a get a courtside view
(16:01):
of exactly what the Memphis Police Department is doing to
address crime, and then they understand that again it's going
to take the whole of Memphis, that there's more that
they can do. They and these pastors have tremendous influence
and being able to leverage those resources and those influence
(16:21):
combined with what the Memphis Police Department is doing, combined
with what these community based organizations are doing, the nonprofit community,
the philanthropic community. If we are able to gavanize all
of those entities and bring all of those resources to bear,
I think we're going to be very successful in reducing
(16:43):
a violent crime.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
We are talking if you've just tuned in this afternoon,
we are talking to the new Memphis Public Safety Czar,
the Memphis Public Safety advisor to Mayor Paul Young.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
For the City of Memphis. If you have a question
or two four.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
We invite you now to call nine zero one five
three five nine three four two eight hundred five zero
three nine three four two eight three three five three
five nine three four two will get you in to us.
You're listening to double D I A.
Speaker 9 (17:23):
Got something to say. Say it next with Tennessee Radio
Hall of Famer Bev Johnson on w d IA the
Bev J justeshow you're listening to the Bev Johnson Show.
(18:25):
Here's Bev Johnson.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
And I'm talking with mister Darren Goods. He is the
Memphis Public Safety Advisor. Going to our phone line to
talk with you. High Clifton, my boy.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Miss john something in your guess about anything?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yes, good afternoon. How are you? You're questioned?
Speaker 7 (18:41):
All right?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
I may have a meaning the question. But what can
be done the queen an atmosphere where you have to
have a background check just as you do when you
buy guns, to buy bullets, because they're using a lot
of bullets and shooting and killing. Could something be done
where you have to register to even buy bullets?
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Mister Clifton, I really appreciate that question. That is actually
a very good question. Unfortunately, that's regulated by the federal government.
So you got your your federal and state legislators, I'm sorry,
at the federal level, your federal legislators, legislators, and the
at F alcohol, TOBIOCO, firement explosives. UH, they regulate the
sale possession of not only weapons, but guns as well.
(19:26):
So something along those lines would would would take Congress
to act and you know, create a law that would
govern that, or at least a presidential uh directive executive
order that would govern that.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Okay, what can be done to recruit retire police officers
to begin to work on cases that haven't been resolved?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Again, mister Cliff, I mean you're bat in a thousand, sir.
I appreciate that. I will say this, Chief Davis hires
quite a few retired officers. I'm not sure if you're
aware of the new video command center that they have downtown.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
They've opened right there on Milk and.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
I'm aware of it.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Okay, So there are retired police officers that actually monitor
those those cameras there, and there's a very there's a
very good reason for that because police officers, you know,
sometimes see things that other people don't see, and so
the things that a normal citizen would.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Miss those officers. It jumps off the page at those officers.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
So they're able to can identify issues before they become
issues in some cases and go ahead and get cars
dispatch those areas. So there are police officers working in
various areas that they're working in background. There are at
least two or three police officers, retired police officers that
are working in the Cold Case Homicide Bureau as well.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I thank you for take Nicole, Thank you, thank you, Clifton,
Bye bye, w D I a high caller.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Hey, Beth, how you doing.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I'm doing well in you and hello.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
To your call. And mister good Bed, you got a
great man's right there in the studio with you.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I like I do.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I got it, Yeah, you got a great ain't wrong
with it?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Ben?
Speaker 6 (21:19):
He said that.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Best high school, he said, south Side.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
But I begged them from fifteen ninety one on Pennsylvania Avenue,
the George Washington Carver High We.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
Want, we want allowed to cross the tracks over this, sir.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
But I do like the position that you have, mister Gowds.
But one thing I like when you're talking about it's
gonna take a whole approach. But uh, I would have
noticed here in Memphis that when they took you know,
when I was in school ball, we had to rotech classes.
We talked about poverty is one of the highest regional crime.
But praying, I mean, but Bill, but yeah, some of
these guys can't get girls can't get the job because
(21:55):
they don't have the skill set. So, uh, you're talking
about bringing employment, but I I'm not gonna bring a
company here if the people here don't have their skill set.
So She's always said, well, they took the vocational part
uh out of the schools. When I was coming up,
we had at Carbor High School. Either you went to
uh Kansas votech you know, you took different trades. We
(22:15):
had a lot of vocational schools. So, but it's gonna
take a whole approach. And I'm like you, mister Goods.
I believe in Memphis, and I have worked with you
on numerous occasions when you were at the when you
were MPD. Mister Goods, and I've always had a lot
of respect for you. But I just know that this
is a good fit for you. And I'm like you,
I believe in Memphis. So let's get this stuff together
(22:36):
and let's get it it's gonna take all of us,
bab it just we can't depend on MPD to do it.
You MPD is reactionary. They're not proactive. You know, it
starts at the home. All you think these teachers have
problems because trying to teach, Yeah, they trying to do this.
But you know, when I was coming to school, we
was already this. So the teachers didn't have no problems
(22:57):
because I didn't want them to come call mister and
missis Filson.
Speaker 7 (23:00):
Me, sir, you say your first name is Kevin.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
He hung up.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
But anyway, so there was actually a good point.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
We talked about vocation and ironically, when I was the
Deputy Commission of Juvenile Justice, we looked at vocational services
to bring those kind of services into the facilities that
where we were housing these young men. And one thing
that we've been blessed with is continue the relationship that
we built with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
(23:31):
Another lifelong Memphium guy by the name of William Arnold,
who is who is the director of re Entry. We've
been talking to him since day one, since I landed
in this spot, about how can we leverage those resources
and the training that they offer even through the American
Job Center, to bring that training here, that vocational training here,
(23:56):
so that we can offer those opportunities opportunities to young
people or older, older people, doesn't matter if you want
an opportunity. Yeah, the opportunity is there. You just have
to simply take advantage of it. And you have to
be willing to roll up your sleeves and stop all
the nonsense and start making some better decisions. So the
opportunity are there.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
We are.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
We are constantly working with Tennessee Department Laying Workforce Development
to create that space that the caller just mentioned about
the vote tech space.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Good unforgetful.
Speaker 10 (24:26):
Hi, Ben, you got a nice gentlemen there. I'm telling
I'm so proud of you, sir, because I can hear
it in your boy. I am really proud of you.
I didn't think anyone exists like you, because you know
the way things are now. But I'm telling you, I'm
not here the one to be criticized in the young folks,
(24:46):
but I can see that you are.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Gad.
Speaker 10 (24:48):
That's what it's all about with me. You are guiding, okay,
because I made me go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I was gonna say, did you have a specific question
for him, Unforgetful, Yeah, I just.
Speaker 10 (24:59):
Want to let him know that them callers that called
that was one of my questions. You know what we
had in the past and teaching kids, you know, to
use their hand. They man, I hope you can bring
that back. And the second question is what about these
kids that got information that needed protected because I know
that the situation that the young man got killed at
(25:22):
some academy or something and he was in the game,
but he didn't get that protection and they killed him.
I was just wondering, you know, why can't we start
protecting some of these kids that you know that don't
want to be a part of this net, but they
need somewhere to go and they protection.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
All right, thank you Forgetful, We got it.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
So first, first thing, thank you sir for those kind words.
And I attribute that to the fact that I was
raised around both sets of grandparents. I was raising a
home with two parents, that was raising a home with
older brothers and sisters that when the us to make
bad decisions. If we made bad decisions, that were severe consequences, uh.
(26:05):
And I was raised by you know, those neighborhood moms
Julia Rogers, who I tell you right now, the worst
spanking I ever got in my life was from Julia
Rodgers I was about eight or nine. And then Aunt
Emma don and then Mama Mama again away. Those were
not our relatives, but they raised us. They raised all
of us, and so I attribute that to where I
(26:28):
am today. And as those saying that standing on the
shoulders of giants, I stand on the shoulders of those
people that raised me. As far as young people are
protecting young people, you know, you're you're absolutely right. I
think there are opportunities for us to do more along
those lines. But again, it just can't be a police thing.
I mean, we have to have our community based organizations.
(26:49):
We have to have our clergy, and that takes that
takes funding. We have to have a funding source to
provide those those kind of wrap around services. But those
are all things that we're looking that. Nothing is off
the table. If someone has an idea about something, I'm
more willing to sit down and listen. You know, the
only bad idea is one that's not shared. So we
(27:13):
take them off, all.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Right, And this last call it is good. I know
you got to get out of here. I know you
had another appointment WDA High caller.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yes, Hi, Bill, this is Carolyn.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
Hey Carolyn, and my question is.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
I am a X a social worker and a counselor,
and I've always wondered, like the job Core program the
company I was working with, we were really successful in
getting kids into job courts, and unfortunately those funds might
be cut. But if there's any way the city can
(27:52):
have like a Job's coll exchange program and get with
democratic governors reicularly in blue states, and get their ideas
about what they're doing to, you know, lessen the clime
in their state and what programs do they have for
their young people. And if you could get like I said,
(28:15):
the jobs called Exchange program to get some of the
young people out of the environment here in Memphis and
they can go maybe to another program somewhere like Maybor,
New Jersey, or Maryland or some you know, friendlier state
where the legislatures are there in the best interest of
(28:37):
all the people in their state instead of victimizing certain
people to keep their put on their neck so they
won't progress.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
That's the problem.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It's these state legislatures that are up there in Nashville
who are determined to keep their foot on the necks
of black folks, especially here in Memphis. Thanks the problem,
Thank you, Carolyn.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Thank you, mister Goods answer Carolyn, and I'm gonna let
you get out of here.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
So that's another very good question.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Mean, your callers have some some really good questions, some
really good insight as you as you're aware this this
administration is fed administration decide to cut a lot of
the social program programs. Uh, and even your community violence
and intervention programs. Job Corp Was one of them. Yeah,
so those funds are no longer there, and I know
(29:30):
that we have to we have to look at an alternative.
I will say this, Uh, Director Brian Harris with the
the Office of Youth Services with the City of Memphis
is doing a fabulous job with employee and the things
that they are doing there that kind of help turn
those at risk kids around.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
He's probably probably someone in the neighborhood of a couple
of thousand kids this this summer where they are different interns,
different places throughout the city and the private sector. So
there there are some things that's happening. I mean, but
you know, there's the need is so great. You know
that it becomes difficult to kind of serve everybody.
Speaker 7 (30:08):
You know what I mean. So we have to we
have to do what we can with what we have.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
As they say, we have to do more with less,
and I think that those things are happening, but unfortunately
the need is greater than the resources.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Last words you like to say, mister good to our
listeners to say and how we can help to help
if we get this crime down and be safe in
the city.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Absolutely, again, I would just say, yeah, it's it's it's
going to take the whole of Memphis, one Memphis, one voice,
one goal, and the more resources that we can bring
to bear on any situation, the better chances we are
going to be at being successful. And Ben, I just
want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to
come and be a part of this historic show.
Speaker 7 (30:56):
Again.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
My parents, my in laws are proud, not because of
anything that I've done, yes it is, but for because
of I get the opportunity to kind of city with
you and listen to the callers because they are Memphis
and you can hear that they are hurting.
Speaker 7 (31:11):
Yeah, and I hope that they hear in.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
My voice the passion and the love that I have
for this city and that I'm willing to do whatever
it takes, you know, to to reduce the violent crime
in this city.
Speaker 7 (31:25):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And you are welcome, mister God because I see because
we had the callers great questions, and I want to
invite you back and come back and talk and talk to.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
More of our listeners.
Speaker 7 (31:33):
Yes, ma'am, thank you. Be safe out here, brother, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Mister Darren Goods, our new public Memphis public Safety Advisor,
the public Safety Czar.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Thank you. I want to thank you callers.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
I want to thank you listeners for joining us this
day on the BEB Johnson Show. We do, we really
do appreciate you. So until tomorrow, please be safe, keep
a cool head, y'all, don't let anyone steal your joy.
Until tomorrow, I'm BEB Johnson, and y'all keep the faith.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
The views and opinions discussed on The BEB Johnson Show
are that of the hosts and callers and not those
of the staff and sponsors of w t I A
Bell, doesn't show Bell, Top Time Memphis Talking and Home Away,
Help you go, you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Go, don't getting ready.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
In time?
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Say show Bell, Joe, Let's go Bell doesn't will make yourdy.
Speaker 5 (00:28):
By here d.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Listen to what to say.
Speaker 6 (00:35):
You know it's time of the belt of this show,
Tap of the Mountain, show Lucky, Let's go.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Good afternoon, and welcome into w d i A the
Heart and soul of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We're rocking and rolling on this.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Monday, June the thirtieth, twenty twenty five. Stick close with
your ears on. Have a very special guest in the studio.
Will tell you about him, but always y'all know the deal.
Have to tell you about my famous place. Yeah, it's
famous now I'm talking about the rock and Chair of Memphis,
where we rock with the best entertainment in town, best
(01:14):
soul food around fifteen forty two Elvis Presley.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
They're open today.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, they are Mondays, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Closed on Tuesday and you get fifteen twenty centt off
today for veterans and seniors and city and county employees.
Go by get some of their famous soul food, miss
and famous chitlins. An assortment of desserts there. You can
(01:43):
dine in or you can take out. Nine zero one
four two five five two six four.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Nine zero one.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Four two five five to six four will get you
into the Rocking Chair of Memphis, where we rock with
some of the best soul food in town, best entertainment around.
Don't forget on Wednesdays it's karaoke night. I heard gon
hell some special going on there Wednesday evening for karaoke,
(02:13):
So head on down to the Rocking Chair. You know,
doors will open up at six o'clock. And Thursday it
is Stumping Thursday with John disco Hound Moore his very
special guests.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
It's a meeting greet.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
He's not gonna perform, but you baby, come and take
pictures with him.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
My boyfriend, mister.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Terry right will be in the house on the back road. Yeah,
I lost my good thing. He will be celebrating Thumping
Thursdays on this Thursday with John Disco Hound at the
rock and Chair of Neat and Greet. So come on
out and have a good time. I'm telling you it's
the place for the best entertainment in town, best soul
(02:52):
food around. Fifteen forty two Elvis Presley open Monday, Tues, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday close old dawn Tuesday, fifteen forty two. Elvis Presley,
dine in or take out nine zero one four two
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Speaker 2 (03:13):
When you go there, y'all, you know what to say.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Tell him BEV Johnson sent you to the Rocking Chair
of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Fifteen forty two.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Elvis Presley, and welcome back to wd I A I
am excited to with this next guest. I haven't met
(03:43):
him before. He's new, but also y'all, he is with
the City of Memphis Public Safety Advisor, Memphis Public Safety ZAR.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Come tell me what all it is talking about.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Please welcome in for the first time to do WDIA.
I'm the BEB Johnson, Joe, mister Darren Goods.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
How you doing, mister.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Goods, I'm doing fantastic. Good to have you here, Glad
to be here. You know, it's kind of crazy because
of all the TV shows and all the interviews that
I've given throughout my career. I think my parents would
be more proud of me at this very moment than
all the other interviews that I've done collectively.
Speaker 7 (04:22):
So I thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh, I thank you, thank you for that. That is
so sweet. That is so sweet. Well, mister Goods, I
have to ask you, what is this this Memphis public
safety advisor, Memphis public what And I have to say,
we need some safety in this city. So tell me
about your position with the City of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
What is this about.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
So Mayor Young's public safety advisor is advise him on
all things, primarily violent crime, but primarily looking at gun
crime and violent crime.
Speaker 7 (04:56):
And we want to take a.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Whole realistic look at how we respond to violent crime,
and that is engaging all of the local law enforcement
to be local, state, federal law enforcement agencies. How do
we bring those resources to bear on addressing the violent
crime that we have in Memphis. Not only that, we've
taken a look at what are the root causes of
(05:21):
violent crime. I think that your callers will will agree
that one of the root calls of violent crime is poverty.
I mean, this city, you know, struggles financially in some areas,
and oftentimes poverty kind of leads one to do things
that they would normally do and that can and that's
(05:42):
kind of get involved with criminal activity. So then what
do we do to combat that, Because, look, we can't
arrest our way out of this. We didn't get into
this situation overnight, and we're not going to get out
of overnight. We need a as I heard the other day,
a whole of government. We need a whole of Memphis
to be actively engaged in every aspect of our pursuit
(06:09):
to reduce violent crime in the city. So, in addition
to kind of galvanizing everyone in the law enforced community,
also Mayor Young has charged me with looking at the
public sector, the churches, the clergy, you name it, the
CBOs or community debase organization. How do we leverage all
(06:32):
of those resources to really bring to bear on reducing
violent crime.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
So that's the reader's digest version.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Okay, that seems like like not much, but that is
a daunting task, especially, you know, knowing the situation that
you know, the violent crime that the Memphis has kind
of been plagued with over the last several years. But
but I mean, we're we're ready to go to work,
roll off, sleeves up, and it's time to get busy.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I should have asked you before I asked about what
is this public safety, But do you have experience in
law enforcement and a little bit about your background.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Yes, ma'am, so I am. I'm a native Memphis, Okay
native native.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
I love this city. I bleed blue. I Memphis blew
through and through. I graduated from the best high school
in the country, the Lord south Side.
Speaker 7 (07:25):
I'm on south Side, Scrappers, the south Side.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
God bless absolutely aster, God bless Willie mister Johnson, who was,
I mean, just a pill of the community.
Speaker 7 (07:37):
He was a principal south Side.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
I was very fortunate also to graduate from the lamorna
On College HBCU, the Magicians, and I spent about almost
thirty six years as a police officer in Memphis, rose
through the ranks, and when I retired in twenty twenty,
I retired as a colonel and I was responsible for,
you know, all of the investigations that occurring in the
(08:01):
city of Memphis. I've worked pretty much every level of
law enforcement from traffic. Started as a nineteen year old PST.
Right out of Marine Corps boot camp who came home
and joined the police department. I rode through the ranks, sergeant,
worked in the robbery bureau. I've worked in a homicide bureau.
I've been very blessed to have supervised some some really
(08:23):
good teams within the MPD. I've worked with some tremendous people.
I've met some tremendous people my ten uere in Memphis,
and then in twenty twenty, I retired as a colonel
and I went to work for the Department of Children's
Services as the deputy director for the Office of Juvenile Justice.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
So I kind of explained it this year this way.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
I spent roughly thirty five almost thirty six years placing
people in custy to put handcuffs on people and send.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Them to jails, to the majunial court.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I spent four almost four and a half years with
DCS on the receiving end of those young people. Totally
different perspective, totally different perspective. I knew and I understood
the plight of some young people and why they made
some decisions that they've made. But when you're on the
receiving end and now you're responsible for everything for that
(09:15):
young person, it's eye opening the amount of trauma that
our young people experienced at an early age, being exposed
to domestic violence at an early age and having a
loved one shot or injured, or having a parent of
both parents incarcerated.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
It makes you wonder.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
There's no wonder why some of the young people make
the bad decisions that they do. So on the DCS side,
we were able to kind of look at those systemic
causes then try to bring some relief to that and
give young people an opportunity.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Someone asked me my.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
First week at DCS, well, what is your vision for
juvenile justice program? I didn't have one, but at that
very moment, it wasn't me talking. It was God that
spoke through me and said, your trajectory is going to
be to change the lives of these young people, changed
their trajectory so that when they are discharged, they're in
(10:12):
a better position to succeed than they were when they
came in. And so those were not my words, those
were the words that at that moment God gave me,
and I fervently believed in that, and we worked every
day very diligently trying to make sure that we gave
young people an opportunity. Because I knew a lot of
young people that would coming in custody. We had a
lot of Chelby County kids and I wanted those young
(10:34):
people to come back and have an opportunity to succeed.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Oh good, good, Wow.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
So you know a little bit about law enforcement, just
a little bit, okay, And I'm glad you explained that
to our listeners because when people here published So, so,
what are you going to do?
Speaker 8 (10:48):
One of the things, mister good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
That is disturbing not only to me, but to residents
of this every day.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
It's a crime every read I don't and I don't
know what's going on. What's happening. You mentioned earlier one
of the things about crime is poverty.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
But you think you would think, mister goods that and
I always say this.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
People know right from Rome, don't.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
They Absolutely, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
But but let me preface this, Okay, there are there
are some people in this community that, regardless of what
opportunities that you avail to them, they're going to still
make really dumb decisions for whatever reasons. But those people
are in the minority. But because of the crimes that
(11:44):
they're committing, gets all the attention. It's like that old adage,
the squeaky wheel gets the oil. So they're the ones
that's making all the noise. They're the ones that's driving
the crime rate. They're the ones that's doing the shooting
and making and continue to make those decisions. Those are
the ones that we have to focus on. Those are
(12:05):
the ones that we really have to pay special attention to,
and then we have to do everything within our power
to take that to take those opportunities away from them,
and if that entails incarceration, then so be it. Then
that's what it need to be. But then there are
there are a big swath of the community that are
(12:26):
involved in in crime that there are there are very
specific reasons why they're doing that, and if they had
an opportunity, if they had an opportunity to feed their family,
to pay their bills, to keep the to keep the
utilities on, then they will make better decisions. Those are
(12:46):
the ones that we have to give a second and
third chance to and we have to give opportunity. We
have to expose them to opportunities, and that not just
locking them up, because we're not going to arrest our
way out of this.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
We have to give people.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
An opportunity, opportunity, but we also have to be very honest.
Like you said, there are those out there that you
know right from wrong and you make a conscientious decision
to do to do wrong, and then you have to
suspect that if you do wrong, then you have to
you have to suffer the consequences, whatever that they may be.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
And we law.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Enforcement in this community, uh, the entire community. I mean,
we have to galvanize together. We have to be in
my in my mind, I say, we have to be
one Memphis. We have to be Memphis strong. We can't
point the fingers. You know, the onness is on us.
The onness is on me. You know, Mayor Young thought
(13:45):
enough of me to hire me for this position. And
I think joh said it better than I probably should
have said. I'm to get in trouble. You know, I'm
from the m born and raised here. You know, we
climb up the chimney and so and so's. It's that
grit and grind kind of attitude that I think that
(14:06):
that we are that we are bringing to the table
to address the crime problems you're in Memphis.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Well, when you talked earlier, you said it's going to
take all of us.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
And we know in our.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Communities that we have neighborhood watch and we do those
things and we you we know police, Uh, you've you've been,
you worked for the Memphis Police Department, and we have
we have the cameras and stuff.
Speaker 8 (14:30):
But it seems like it's not enough because we have
all these things in place. I think the Memphis Police Department,
mister Goods, they do their job, They catch the criminal.
That's all I can do is lock them up and
go from But but what else?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
And you mentioned one.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Thing and I want to talk about. You mentioned got
to get the churches involved.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Yes, ma'am, That's why I said, this is the the
only way we're going to get this. We have to
have the whole of Memphis, the whole of government, the
whole of it. If you live in this town, if
you love this town the way I love this town,
then it's time to roll your sleeves of and jump in.
There's no we do not have the luxury of standing
on the sideline anymore. There are thousands of churches in
(15:19):
this city. A lot of them are actively involved. I
know the Memphis Police Department has I can't think of
the name of the program, but basically it's a clergy
members that actually go through what they call the clergy academy.
So they go through multiple weeks in essence training of
(15:41):
what the Memphis Police officers to kind of training they
go through and then they see, you know, from the inside,
the operational aspect of the Memphis Police Department, and then
they I think they get a better understanding of of
some of the limitations that police have, but they also
get a you know, get a get a courtside view
(16:01):
of exactly what the Memphis Police Department is doing to
address crime, and then they understand that again it's going
to take the whole of Memphis, that there's more that
they can do. They and these pastors have tremendous influence
and being able to leverage those resources and those influence
(16:21):
combined with what the Memphis Police Department is doing, combined
with what these community based organizations are doing, the nonprofit community,
the philanthropic community. If we are able to gavanize all
of those entities and bring all of those resources to bear,
I think we're going to be very successful in reducing
(16:43):
a violent crime.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
We are talking if you've just tuned in this afternoon,
we are talking to the new Memphis Public Safety Czar,
the Memphis Public Safety advisor to Mayor Paul Young.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
For the City of Memphis. If you have a question
or two four.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
We invite you now to call nine zero one five
three five nine three four two eight hundred five zero
three nine three four two eight three three five three
five nine three four two will get you in to us.
You're listening to double D I A.
Speaker 9 (17:23):
Got something to say. Say it next with Tennessee Radio
Hall of Famer Bev Johnson on w d IA the
Bev J justeshow you're listening to the Bev Johnson Show.
(18:25):
Here's Bev Johnson.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
And I'm talking with mister Darren Goods. He is the
Memphis Public Safety Advisor. Going to our phone line to
talk with you. High Clifton, my boy.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Miss john something in your guess about anything?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yes, good afternoon. How are you? You're questioned?
Speaker 7 (18:41):
All right?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
I may have a meaning the question. But what can
be done the queen an atmosphere where you have to
have a background check just as you do when you
buy guns, to buy bullets, because they're using a lot
of bullets and shooting and killing. Could something be done
where you have to register to even buy bullets?
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Mister Clifton, I really appreciate that question. That is actually
a very good question. Unfortunately, that's regulated by the federal government.
So you got your your federal and state legislators, I'm sorry,
at the federal level, your federal legislators, legislators, and the
at F alcohol, TOBIOCO, firement explosives. UH, they regulate the
sale possession of not only weapons, but guns as well.
(19:26):
So something along those lines would would would take Congress
to act and you know, create a law that would
govern that, or at least a presidential uh directive executive
order that would govern that.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Okay, what can be done to recruit retire police officers
to begin to work on cases that haven't been resolved?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Again, mister Cliff, I mean you're bat in a thousand, sir.
I appreciate that. I will say this, Chief Davis hires
quite a few retired officers. I'm not sure if you're
aware of the new video command center that they have downtown.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
They've opened right there on Milk and.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
I'm aware of it.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
Okay, So there are retired police officers that actually monitor
those those cameras there, and there's a very there's a
very good reason for that because police officers, you know,
sometimes see things that other people don't see, and so
the things that a normal citizen would.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Miss those officers. It jumps off the page at those officers.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
So they're able to can identify issues before they become
issues in some cases and go ahead and get cars
dispatch those areas. So there are police officers working in
various areas that they're working in background. There are at
least two or three police officers, retired police officers that
are working in the Cold Case Homicide Bureau as well.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I thank you for take Nicole, Thank you, thank you, Clifton,
Bye bye, w D I a high caller.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Hey, Beth, how you doing.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
I'm doing well in you and hello.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
To your call. And mister good Bed, you got a
great man's right there in the studio with you.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I like I do.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
I got it, Yeah, you got a great ain't wrong
with it?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Ben?
Speaker 6 (21:19):
He said that.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Best high school, he said, south Side.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
But I begged them from fifteen ninety one on Pennsylvania Avenue,
the George Washington Carver High We.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
Want, we want allowed to cross the tracks over this, sir.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
But I do like the position that you have, mister Gowds.
But one thing I like when you're talking about it's
gonna take a whole approach. But uh, I would have
noticed here in Memphis that when they took you know,
when I was in school ball, we had to rotech classes.
We talked about poverty is one of the highest regional crime.
But praying, I mean, but Bill, but yeah, some of
these guys can't get girls can't get the job because
(21:55):
they don't have the skill set. So, uh, you're talking
about bringing employment, but I I'm not gonna bring a
company here if the people here don't have their skill set.
So She's always said, well, they took the vocational part
uh out of the schools. When I was coming up,
we had at Carbor High School. Either you went to
uh Kansas votech you know, you took different trades. We
(22:15):
had a lot of vocational schools. So, but it's gonna
take a whole approach. And I'm like you, mister Goods.
I believe in Memphis, and I have worked with you
on numerous occasions when you were at the when you
were MPD. Mister Goods, and I've always had a lot
of respect for you. But I just know that this
is a good fit for you. And I'm like you,
I believe in Memphis. So let's get this stuff together
(22:36):
and let's get it it's gonna take all of us,
bab it just we can't depend on MPD to do it.
You MPD is reactionary. They're not proactive. You know, it
starts at the home. All you think these teachers have
problems because trying to teach, Yeah, they trying to do this.
But you know, when I was coming to school, we
was already this. So the teachers didn't have no problems
(22:57):
because I didn't want them to come call mister and
missis Filson.
Speaker 7 (23:00):
Me, sir, you say your first name is Kevin.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
He hung up.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
But anyway, so there was actually a good point.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
We talked about vocation and ironically, when I was the
Deputy Commission of Juvenile Justice, we looked at vocational services
to bring those kind of services into the facilities that
where we were housing these young men. And one thing
that we've been blessed with is continue the relationship that
we built with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
(23:31):
Another lifelong Memphium guy by the name of William Arnold,
who is who is the director of re Entry. We've
been talking to him since day one, since I landed
in this spot, about how can we leverage those resources
and the training that they offer even through the American
Job Center, to bring that training here, that vocational training here,
(23:56):
so that we can offer those opportunities opportunities to young
people or older, older people, doesn't matter if you want
an opportunity. Yeah, the opportunity is there. You just have
to simply take advantage of it. And you have to
be willing to roll up your sleeves and stop all
the nonsense and start making some better decisions. So the
opportunity are there.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
We are.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
We are constantly working with Tennessee Department Laying Workforce Development
to create that space that the caller just mentioned about
the vote tech space.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Good unforgetful.
Speaker 10 (24:26):
Hi, Ben, you got a nice gentlemen there. I'm telling
I'm so proud of you, sir, because I can hear
it in your boy. I am really proud of you.
I didn't think anyone exists like you, because you know
the way things are now. But I'm telling you, I'm
not here the one to be criticized in the young folks,
(24:46):
but I can see that you are.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Gad.
Speaker 10 (24:48):
That's what it's all about with me. You are guiding, okay,
because I made me go ahead.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I was gonna say, did you have a specific question
for him, Unforgetful, Yeah, I just.
Speaker 10 (24:59):
Want to let him know that them callers that called
that was one of my questions. You know what we
had in the past and teaching kids, you know, to
use their hand. They man, I hope you can bring
that back. And the second question is what about these
kids that got information that needed protected because I know
that the situation that the young man got killed at
(25:22):
some academy or something and he was in the game,
but he didn't get that protection and they killed him.
I was just wondering, you know, why can't we start
protecting some of these kids that you know that don't
want to be a part of this net, but they
need somewhere to go and they protection.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
All right, thank you Forgetful, We got it.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
So first, first thing, thank you sir for those kind words.
And I attribute that to the fact that I was
raised around both sets of grandparents. I was raising a
home with two parents, that was raising a home with
older brothers and sisters that when the us to make
bad decisions. If we made bad decisions, that were severe consequences, uh.
(26:05):
And I was raised by you know, those neighborhood moms
Julia Rogers, who I tell you right now, the worst
spanking I ever got in my life was from Julia
Rodgers I was about eight or nine. And then Aunt
Emma don and then Mama Mama again away. Those were
not our relatives, but they raised us. They raised all
of us, and so I attribute that to where I
(26:28):
am today. And as those saying that standing on the
shoulders of giants, I stand on the shoulders of those
people that raised me. As far as young people are
protecting young people, you know, you're you're absolutely right. I
think there are opportunities for us to do more along
those lines. But again, it just can't be a police thing.
I mean, we have to have our community based organizations.
(26:49):
We have to have our clergy, and that takes that
takes funding. We have to have a funding source to
provide those those kind of wrap around services. But those
are all things that we're looking that. Nothing is off
the table. If someone has an idea about something, I'm
more willing to sit down and listen. You know, the
only bad idea is one that's not shared. So we
(27:13):
take them off, all.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Right, And this last call it is good. I know
you got to get out of here. I know you
had another appointment WDA High caller.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Yes, Hi, Bill, this is Carolyn.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
Hey Carolyn, and my question is.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
I am a X a social worker and a counselor,
and I've always wondered, like the job Core program the
company I was working with, we were really successful in
getting kids into job courts, and unfortunately those funds might
be cut. But if there's any way the city can
(27:52):
have like a Job's coll exchange program and get with
democratic governors reicularly in blue states, and get their ideas
about what they're doing to, you know, lessen the clime
in their state and what programs do they have for
their young people. And if you could get like I said,
(28:15):
the jobs called Exchange program to get some of the
young people out of the environment here in Memphis and
they can go maybe to another program somewhere like Maybor,
New Jersey, or Maryland or some you know, friendlier state
where the legislatures are there in the best interest of
(28:37):
all the people in their state instead of victimizing certain
people to keep their put on their neck so they
won't progress.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
That's the problem.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It's these state legislatures that are up there in Nashville
who are determined to keep their foot on the necks
of black folks, especially here in Memphis. Thanks the problem,
Thank you, Carolyn.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Thank you, mister Goods answer Carolyn, and I'm gonna let
you get out of here.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
So that's another very good question.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Mean, your callers have some some really good questions, some
really good insight as you as you're aware this this
administration is fed administration decide to cut a lot of
the social program programs. Uh, and even your community violence
and intervention programs. Job Corp Was one of them. Yeah,
so those funds are no longer there, and I know
(29:30):
that we have to we have to look at an alternative.
I will say this, Uh, Director Brian Harris with the
the Office of Youth Services with the City of Memphis
is doing a fabulous job with employee and the things
that they are doing there that kind of help turn
those at risk kids around.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
He's probably probably someone in the neighborhood of a couple
of thousand kids this this summer where they are different interns,
different places throughout the city and the private sector. So
there there are some things that's happening. I mean, but
you know, there's the need is so great. You know
that it becomes difficult to kind of serve everybody.
Speaker 7 (30:08):
You know what I mean. So we have to we
have to do what we can with what we have.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
As they say, we have to do more with less,
and I think that those things are happening, but unfortunately
the need is greater than the resources.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Last words you like to say, mister good to our
listeners to say and how we can help to help
if we get this crime down and be safe in
the city.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Absolutely, again, I would just say, yeah, it's it's it's
going to take the whole of Memphis, one Memphis, one voice,
one goal, and the more resources that we can bring
to bear on any situation, the better chances we are
going to be at being successful. And Ben, I just
want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to
come and be a part of this historic show.
Speaker 7 (30:56):
Again.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
My parents, my in laws are proud, not because of
anything that I've done, yes it is, but for because
of I get the opportunity to kind of city with
you and listen to the callers because they are Memphis
and you can hear that they are hurting.
Speaker 7 (31:11):
Yeah, and I hope that they hear in.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
My voice the passion and the love that I have
for this city and that I'm willing to do whatever
it takes, you know, to to reduce the violent crime
in this city.
Speaker 7 (31:25):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And you are welcome, mister God because I see because
we had the callers great questions, and I want to
invite you back and come back and talk and talk to.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
More of our listeners.
Speaker 7 (31:33):
Yes, ma'am, thank you. Be safe out here, brother, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Mister Darren Goods, our new public Memphis public Safety Advisor,
the public Safety Czar.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Thank you. I want to thank you callers.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
I want to thank you listeners for joining us this
day on the BEB Johnson Show. We do, we really
do appreciate you. So until tomorrow, please be safe, keep
a cool head, y'all, don't let anyone steal your joy.
Until tomorrow, I'm BEB Johnson, and y'all keep the faith.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
The views and opinions discussed on The BEB Johnson Show
are that of the hosts and callers and not those
of the staff and sponsors of w t I A
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