Memphis Police Association President Matt Cunningham confirmed that Assistant Chief Don Crowe of the Memphis Police Department is set for retirement. Cunningham expressed his sentiments on the departure of the seasoned officer, noting, "I’m heartbroken to have a leader with such a wealth of knowledge and experience leave the department." He hailed Crowe as an "unexampled leader who was universally loved and served the city for over 37 years," according to Action News 5.
As the second in command, Assistant Chief Crowe's imminent retirement comes after a lauded career spanning more than three decades with Memphis Police Department. Appointed as Assistant Chief of Police Services by Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis on June 7, 2021, Crowe began his legacy in Uniform Patrol, including roles as a Field Training Officer and a Crisis Intervention Officer, as detailed by WREG. During his tenure, Crowe advanced through several ranks, serving as sergeant detective across multiple bureaus before rising to the role of Deputy Chief of Information Technology in 2017.
Sources close to the situation revealed to ABC24 that Crowe's last day could be as soon as Friday, July 25. His retirement signifies a notable shift within Memphis Police Department's ranks, marking the second assistant chief to depart in just over a year. Previously, Assistant Chief Shawn Jones was let go in July 2024, a decision by Memphis Mayor Paul Young that came amidst morale concerns and following reports on Jones's out-of-state voting activities.
The Memphis Police Department has yet to provide an official statement on Crowe's retirement. With his exit, set perhaps as early as tomorrow, the department will bid farewell to an officer whose career was marked by his moves up the ladder, from working on the streets in the midnight shift Felony Response Bureau to leading centralized detective bureaus and commanding the division of Information Services. Throughout his career, Crowe's advancement through the ranks epitomized the potential for growth within the force, as per the accounts from WREG.
