John's Accomplishments
Sales Tax Referendum Campaign
On October 3, 2019 the citizens of Memphis voted to pass the Public Safety Sales Tax Referendum that:
- Restored health care benefits to police and fire pre-65 retirees
- Restored Pensions to those hired 7½ years prior to July 1, 2016 (104 class – 121)
- Fully funded Pre-K was for the children of Memphis for the first time in history
- Made millions of dollars available for street paving
- Subsequently allowed the MPA, working closely with Mayor Strickland, to extend the pension restoration to all classes from 122 forward as well as all new hires.
The path towards the passage of the Public Safety Referendum began in 2017 after a meeting between Mayor Jim Strickland, Matt Cunningham, and myself in which the Mayor agreed to restore benefits if the MPA could “find 33 million dollars a year to pay for it.” Taking him at his word, I began exploring what options there might actually be and soon discovered the state laws and procedures that would allow for a Referendum Sales Tax increase.
After convincing the Fire Association to join us, Matt Cunningham, Thomas Malone (Fire Presidentes) and I sat down with the MPA attorney Tim Taylor and crafted the referendum language. We then set up the signature gathering and verification process. As we approached the end of signature gathering Jeremy White researched and found John Hatch, a consultant out of Texas, to help us organize a political campaign. Matt Tomek, John Hatch and I worked to together to run the day-to-day operations and all political messaging of the political campaign.
On October 3, 2019 all the hard work paid off. In the aftermath, I represented the MPA and Matthew Tomek represented the IAFF in a series of meetings with the Mayor and his team to ensure the successful restoration of healthcare and pension benefits along with the mechanism by which both organizations could monitor the proper allocation of all funds from the referendum.
Lifting of Residency Restrictions for Police Officers
In 2020, I began coordinating with Mayor Jim Strickland, HR Chief Alex Smith, Former DA and current President of the Memphis Crime Commission Bill Gibbons, IAFF President Thomas Malone, and allies on the City Council to get residency restrictions lifted for Memphis First Responders. After the City Council voted down the initiative and subsequently overrode the Mayor’s veto, I was privileged to be a part of the group that worked closely with TN State Reps John Gillespie and Ron Gant, State Senator Brian Kelsey, and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton to get a state law passed to lift the restriction.
25% in Wage Increases Over Last 4 Years
2019 (4% Raise)
In 2019, I was the leader of the MPA Negotiation Team. In that position, I made the determination to make a change to the approach and design the MPA had taken in its approach and presentation to the City Council over previous years. Jeremy White and I met with every single council person to cultivate relationships, develop alliances and make a fact-based pitch regarding the need for a wage increase. I also made the decision to stand before City Council myself and make the argument rather than relying on the MPA attorney to do it. I focused on the hardships and sacrifices of officers and the fact that MPD was one of the lowest paid agencies regionally.
From the Commercial Appeal: Memphis City Council approves pay raise for police officers – May 21, 2019
Police Officer John Covington, chief negotiator for the police association, gave an impassioned speech in favor of the extra pay hike. Covington said Memphis officers are exposed to extreme violence and trauma by, for instance, going to a crime scene and seeing firsthand the blood and gore of gun violence - it's even worse when a child has been shot. He said officers internalize the horror they see and take it home with them. They can go to a nearby suburban department with far less violence and get paid more, he said. He said when he puts on his undershirt to go to work, he thinks about how if he's shot, a paramedic will cut it off of him. Representatives for Mayor Strickland's administration acknowledged that nearby police departments pay higher salaries than Memphis does. “I believe everything that was said was heartfelt and spot-on,” said Doug McGowen, the city's chief operating officer.
In the end, the City Council rejected the City’s offer of 3% and voted to give officers a 4% raise.
2021 (3 year Pensionable 9% Bonus Program)
In 2021, the Mayor, Chief of HR Alex Smith and I hammered out a deal using Referendum funds to finance a pensionable 3 year 9% bonus program.
2022 (10% raise over two years, 5% 2022 – 5% 2023)
In 2021 I filled the role of Chief Negotiator for the MPA that had up to that point always been held by the MPA attorney. Again working directly with the Mayor and the Chief of HR I was able to facilitate the increase of the City’s initial offer from 8% over two years to 10%.
2023 (14% Raise: 9% Bonus Converted to Salary Coupled with Previous 5%)
In a move endorsed and supported by the MPA, Mayor Jim Strickland got permission from the state to convert the 9% bonus into a salary increase. In order for the City to do this ,a majority of officers needed to void the 9% bonus contract they had signed the year prior. I led the efforts for the MPA in this process. In the end, 97.5% of officers opted out of contract.
P3 Lowered to Year 5
Back in 2016 Matt Cunningham was instrumental in creating the P3 paygrade which increased a patrolman’s pay by just under 2% at the start of the 12th year of employment from commission date. In subsequent negotiations Jeremey White, Ken Walcott and I worked extremely hard to get the start year lowered. The hard work paid off and a change was made in 2022 to lower the start of the P3 bump to the start of the 5th year from commission date.
Longevity Pay Issues
Midway through 2022, I discovered many issues with correct longevity payments to officers; some going back many years. I raised the alarm to both city payroll and officers. I continue to encourage officers to go back and check their paystubs. As a result, many have been given retro-pay.
Wellness Bonus Day
This was an initiative that Lynnette Hall-Lewis, Health Engagement Sr Manager for the City of Memphis, and I worked very hard on.
We used to have the opportunity to earn 4 bonus days per year. In 2022 3 of the bonus days were converted to 3 vacation days. At the end of negotiations that year the MPA and city agreed to develop a way for officers to earn a 4th day in the last quarter of the year to make up for the lost opportunity to earn a 4th Bonus day.
Given that the city advised they wanted to get away from incentivizing officers to come to work sick we came at it from the Wellness angle. I'm on the City of Memphis Healthcare Oversight Committee and I see how much strain is put on retiree healthcare by drugs and treatment for preventable stuff like diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease etc.; a lot of which could be preventable with a yearly medical check up.
As for the mental wellness checkup that can be as easy as a call to Concern (901-458-4000) to set up a telephone, zoom, or in-person conversation. The hope has been that since this is just to earn a day off it will remove any stigma and make it easier for those who really need some help to actually have a little cover to reach out. If this incentive leads to a medical issue being caught early or a single officer who is really struggling getting some help then then it is a total success in my eyes.
MPA Late Night
I created an initiative in which the MPA has a late shift the third Friday of every month from 7PM to 3 AM. I think it’s important to give an opportunity to the Charlie and Alpha shifts to be able to come by the office to drop things off, advice, or just to take advantage of the snack closet. It’s been a big success and I look forward to expanding the late shift to more times per month.