Civil rights groups sue Memphis and MPD, alleging unlawful denial of public records on police force

Lawsuit targets access to use-of-force and investigative documentation

Two civil rights organizations filed suit on February 24, 2026, against the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department, seeking a court order compelling the release of police records requested under Tennessee’s public records law. The plaintiffs are Stand for Children Tennessee and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The case centers on a public records request submitted in May 2025 that sought materials tied to police accountability and the department’s use-of-force practices. The request asked for existing records that, as described by the organizations, include use-of-force reports, field investigation memos, and related documentation typically created and retained during routine police operations.

What the plaintiffs say was requested—and why

The lawsuit frames the request as an effort to evaluate whether MPD has taken steps to address misconduct and civil rights concerns identified in a U.S. Department of Justice findings report issued in December 2024. The plaintiffs contend that access to underlying records is necessary for the public to assess departmental practices and any changes implemented after those findings.

The request was part of a multistate transparency effort in jurisdictions that have faced federal findings related to unlawful policing. The plaintiffs assert that Memphis stands apart because the request was denied rather than fulfilled in whole or in part.

• Request submitted: May 2025
• Denial issued: September 2025
• Lawsuit filed: February 24, 2026

City and MPD response cited in the dispute

Documents described in the dispute indicate MPD denied the request on grounds that it was too broad and would require the department to sort through files or compile information in a way that public records custodians are not required to do. The plaintiffs counter that the materials sought are standard records that already exist and are stored in a digital archive, meaning production would not require creating new records.

The suit asks the court to enforce access rights under Tennessee’s public records framework, which generally provides that state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection unless a specific legal exception applies.

How Tennessee’s public records law is enforced in court

Under Tennessee law, a requester whose access is denied may petition a court for review. In such proceedings, the governmental entity bears the burden of justifying nondisclosure. Courts are directed to construe the law broadly in favor of access and have authority to issue injunctive relief ordering production. The statute also allows, in certain circumstances, an award of reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees when a willful refusal to disclose public records is found.

What happens next

The filing initiates a court process that can require the city to defend its denial on the record and, if necessary, submit disputed materials for judicial review. The litigation is expected to focus on whether the request reasonably identified existing records, whether any exemptions apply, and whether MPD’s stated burden concerns justify withholding the requested materials.

The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of public access to Memphis government records and could clarify the scope of what agencies must produce when requested documentation is maintained in digital systems.