Christian Groups Rally Against MPD Promotions Appeal

It's a lawsuit that has cost the city of Memphis millions of dollars over the past ten years, and it appeared the case had finally reached an end last Thursday when Federal Judge Bernice Donald ruled 28 African American police officers be promoted to their earned rank of lieutenant. Judge Donald also ruled the officers be given back pay.

"When I heard that the federal judge, Judge Donald had ruled, I was so gratified," said Reverend Dwight Montgomery.

But that gratification didn't last long after the city filed an appeal the next day. It's an appeal that Reverend Montgomery, who is speaking on behalf of the 28 officers involved in this case, doesn't understand. "I was just totally surprised when I was told it was going to be appealed and I just couldn't understand."

Reverend Montgomery, President of the Memphis Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference teamed with Reverend Shelton Greer, President of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association. The two men wrote a letter to Memphis mayor A-C Wharton, pleading for Wharton to drop the city's appeal to the federal judge's ruling.

"This city will end up, as we indicated in the letter, spending more money continuing this lawsuit than simply settling,” Montgomery went on to say. "What we want is fairness. That is what the SCLC stands for. We're not asking for the Mayor or City Attorney to do anything inappropriate but that which would be appropriate and in the best interest of this city."

But attorneys representing the city disagree, saying in the appeal the court erred in its balancing of these four factors: Probability of success, threat of irreparable harm, no substantial harm to others and public interest would be served by keeping these 28 officers in their current positions.

Mayor Wharton says it's not about keeping the officers from receiving justice.

"I hope everybody can understand there are certain legal steps that we have to take but just because we take the legal steps does not mean we're not willing to sit down and see if we can resolve things,” said Wharton. "Simply because we say we're going to appeal doesn't mean we're slamming the door and saying no, we're not gonna resolve this."

Reverend Montgomery, who made it clear he's a huge A-C Wharton supporter, is confident the mayor will make the right decision. "We know that appealing to him, he's going to do the right thing."