The way things unfolded in Memphis over the last week in a half, I knew it was going to be devastating. I refused to watch the video but, I do know the details. As one of numerous clergy for MPD we were asked to be in prayer for the city. The media swarmed the city and most politicians did what they did best; they stirred the pot. I know the media thought Memphis was going to put on a show and I am thankful for the most part they didn’t get the riots they wanted. Of course, we have fools. What city doesn’t?
Some people have their opinions about the Chief of Police but, I think you can say that she handled things orderly, by the book, and swiftly. She did better than other cities have done that have dragged their feet when dealing with officers. Crossing her T’s and Dotting her I’s. I think those that criticize just want something to criticize and when I can’t tell you how to do your job, the policies, the procedures, and don’t know your job description it’s pretty hard for me to tell you what you should be doing.
I think, what an evil thing to do to another human being. I think what monsters. I think it is heartbreaking for Tyre’s family and friends, the community. It’s heartbreaking for anyone that has a soul. I think what heartbreak, shame, for the family of those officers, paramedics, and others involved. I wonder if those officers had children? Wives? What if they had friends and family that thought, “I can’t believe what is happening!” What a sickening and sinking feeling. Family and friends can shock the hell out of you and let you down.
I read that Tyre had a passion for photography and particular landscape photography and I thought, “Oh! Another creative soul.” It was said he loved sunsets. Well, beloved soul, I too love sunsets. In some memorials they list the time of birth as “sunrise” and time of death as “sunset”. I absolutely hate his time of death was a nightmare. Torture. I thought of this, he is now with the Creator of sunrises and sunsets and I know the sunsets on that side are nothing like we’ve seen on this earth. Rest in Heaven, In Peace, In Love and In the arms of the one what “foreknew you and fashioned you in your mother’s womb.” Sunrise-Earth. Sunset-Eternity.
~Nikki
Nikki's Confetti Life 
I was then, I am now, and I will be forever appalled. I used to have some oversight over a police department. I think and I know certain things. The first thing I know is that police officers are not either righteous or evil. They are people. People make terrible decisions.
The thing I think is that what we saw was an entire breakdown in how people are hired. In my experience it is important to hire the right people. Cities, or organizations get exactly one chance to hire the right people. If that goes wrong, very little can go right afterward.
What i saw over the weekend was a fundamental and complete failure in hiring. There are better ways. Far better ways. Because if you hire wrong, Nothing else can ever be right. Nothing.