MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mayor Paul Young spoke to hundreds of Memphis Police Department officers in January shortly after his inauguration.
The nearly hour and a half long recording obtained by ABC24 had a variety of topics covered during the conversation, but one officer asked a particular question.
Are now-interim MPD Chief Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis and Assistant Chief Shawn Jones a package deal? The officer said they believed Jones was the one pulling the strings in the department.
"I support Chief Davis," Young said to laughter and applause.
Jones formerly served in the Atlanta Police Department with Davis, joining MPD in September 2021 after leaving the Fulton County Sheriff's Department.
But Jones is still actively voting in the state of Georgia despite serving as the second-in-command of the Memphis Police Department for nearly three years earning roughly $177,000.
Jones voted twice in 2024, most recently as May 21, 2024 in the Georgia general primary election with an early voting in-person ballot, according to Georgia voting records.
JONES'S RESIDENCY
Jones has voted three times in Georgia since becoming the MPD's assistant chief, including the Dec. 6, 2022 General/Special Election Runoff, the March 12, 2024 Presidential Primary and on the May 21 date mentioned above. All three times, Jones voted early and in-person.
It's unclear if Jones rents property in Memphis, as rental records are not publicly available. Jones is also not registered to vote in the State of Tennessee, according to Tennessee voting records.
Dr. Charles Bullock, professor of political science at the University of Georgia, said that Jones is completely allowed to vote in Georgia if that is where he decides his legal residence to be.
"But for a man who has been there for three years, you'd think there'd be some expectation he'd be living in the community or nearby," Bullock said. "It makes it a bit suspicious, although if they still have a residence in Georgia and he declared that his legal residence, he could still vote in Georgia.
"Whatever it is, I think it is curious given his responsibilities that he has not shifted his legal residence to Memphis."
Georgia Secretary of State officials told ABC24 that if Jones hasn’t registered in Tennessee, and he still has a house in Fulton County, that he is in compliance with Georgia voting rules.
Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission officials said that they have no requirement on residency for state law enforcement officials and that it falls on the local agency that the person works for.
The State of Tennessee changed legal requirements in the city for residency of law enforcement officials.
In March 2022, Gov. Bill Lee signed a senate bill that would allow commissioned officers to reside outside of Shelby County, but those who reside outside of the county must be able to report to work within two hours of notification, per MPD policy.
Memphis Police Department officials did not respond to ABC24's questions regarding Jones, but did send a statement.
"Shawn Jones’ primary residence is still in the state of Georgia," MPD Lt. Louis Brownlee said in an email to ABC24. "Tennessee state law does not permit restrictions on the residency of first responders."
CITY'S RESPONSE
City council member Jerri Green said she was unaware of Jones's voting in Georgia, but said she can't speak for the city itself.
"I believe the residency policy states that an officer can live outside Shelby County but must be able to report in person in two hours in emergency circumstances," Green said. "If proven true, it seems this would be a clear violation and should be addressed immediately."
Other city council members contacted by ABC24 did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
City of Memphis officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.