MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong is responding to recent officer-involved shootings; there have been three so far this year.
Director Armstrong called an impromptu news conference late Thursday afternoon and announced that's three too many.
Armstrong called the news conference to address the disturbing trend of people pulling guns on officers.
Memphis police officers have had guns pointed at them twice in the last 24 hours. In one of those incidents, someone shot at officers. Last week, officers shot and killed a man they say pointed a gun at them outside an apartment complex in southeast Memphis.
Armstrong says he understands the public's perception may be that his officers are anxious and over eager, but he insists that's not the case.
"We're encountering armed suspects in each case. We're recovering guns - not things that look like guns - we're recovering fully loaded guns," he said. "If our officers don't do their jobs and don't do what they're trained to do, what's the trade off? Another funeral procession, the city mourning the death of another police officer."
All officers involved in the shootings have been routinely relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigations.
