Two former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers are facing possible decertification after being accused of serious misconduct, as per reports from several local news outlets. Deedrick Collier and Mikhail Payne, both of whom resigned in the face of potential termination, have reportedly violated departmental regulations, sparking an inquiry by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST).
Collier's troubles began after an incident on October 31, 2023, where he claimed to have been struck by a fleeing vehicle at the scene of a crash. He subsequently received benefits for an on-the-job injury and took 30 days off duty. However, POST documents obtained by Action News 5 reveal that body camera footage contradicted Collier's account, showing that no contact with the vehicle occurred. Collier, who joined the MPD in 2018, was accused of violating policies regarding truthfulness and feigning illness or injury, before resigning on May 8, 2024.
Payne's case, on the other hand, deals with an event that transpired on May 30, 2024, when the then-probationary officer was allegedly videotaped engaging in lewd conduct at a local bar. A patron recorded Payne inappropriately touching himself, an act deemed “lewd, obscene, offensive, and degrading act took place,” by POST records. In statements obtained by WREG, it was noted that Payne, hired in June 2023, faced violations of MPD policies on personal conduct, lewd/obscene conduct, and alcoholic beverages. Payne chose to resign before his disciplinary hearing on September 24, 2024.
Both former officers are due to attend an informal hearing set for tomorrow, as reported by Local Memphis ABC24. If neither Collier nor Payne presents themselves for the hearing, they could face default decertification, preceding a final vote on their law enforcement status during a commission meeting scheduled for Friday. This decisive step could mark the end of their policing careers in the state of Tennessee, barring them from serving as law enforcement officers henceforth.
The fallout for both men has been swift and, notable with local authorities scrutinizing their actions closely. The Memphis Police Department has not issued any additional statements regarding the decertification proceedings aside from the information already publicized. Meanwhile, the district attorney’s office has indicated that Payne's case has not yet been submitted for their review, suggesting reports from WREG.
