Former MPD Assistant Chief of Police got $11K for trips and travel

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former Memphis Police Assistant Chief Shawn Jones received $11,000 of taxpayer money for trips and travel during his three years with the Memphis Police Department (MPD), according to a public records request obtained by FOX13 Investigates.

RELATED: Memphis Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Jones no longer with MPD

Memphis Mayor Paul Young announced on July 8 that Jones was no longer part of the Memphis Police Department. The announcement came after it was discovered that Jones' primary residence was still listed in Fairburn, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta where Jones previously worked with MPD Interim Police Chief C.J. Davis. However, Young emphasized that the city's decision to part ways with Jones had nothing to do with concerns over his residency.

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FOX13 wanted to see if the city had paid for any of Jones' return trips to the Atlanta area. Voting records indicate that Jones voted in three Georgia elections during his time with MPD.

The public records request revealed that Jones did receive city funding for two trips to Atlanta in May 2023 and January 2024. Those trips cost the city $835 and $536, respectively. But the first trip was tied to an annual law enforcement training conference and the second was related to a trip to build a Memphis Police Foundation Charity, similar to one operating in Atlanta. The dates of travel match up with the timing of those events, outlined in the request he made for the trip to Interim Chief Davis. The conference was held May 4 through May 6.

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Other trips on the record were for San Diego, Dallas, Washington D.C., Chicago and Nashville. All of those trips were also related to police conferences and training events.

Jones also received a moving stipend when he came to Memphis and had an apartment in Memphis during his time with MPD, according to Mayor Young's office.

Jones' continued residency in Georgia did not violate any state laws. A state law passed in 2022 removed residency requirements for first responders and MPD changed their policy accordingly. However, MPD policy does dictate that officers must be able to report to work within two hours of being notified.