Director
Larry A. Godwin
Director
Larry A. Godwin graduated from Catholic High School in Memphis,
Tennessee in 1969. During Director Godwin’s high school years,
our country was heavily involved in the Vietnam conflict.
Feeling the burden upon our country, Director Godwin voluntarily
enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. Following his
tour in Vietnam, he returned to Memphis. Upon reaching the
required age for employment, Director Godwin began his law
enforcement career.
After joining the
Memphis Police Department as a Metro Narcotics Undercover
Operations Officer in 1973, he continued his journey working
numerous assignments as a Patrolman and then Sergeant. These
assignments consisted of: Uniform Patrol, Tactical Unit,
Training Academy Instructor, Homicide Investigator and Fraud and
Document Investigator.
In 1992, he was
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the Crime
Response/Bomb Unit as a shift supervisor. In 1998, he was
promoted to the rank of Major and subsequently assigned as the
Commander of the Crime Response/Bomb Unit.
In 2001, he was
promoted to the rank of Inspector and assigned the duties of the
Commander of Special Services. In this position, he was given
the responsibility of Chief Security Administrator for the
“Tyson vs. Lewis Championship Fight” and the “Maccabi Games”.
On April 14, 2003,
he was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief. During his tenure
as Deputy Chief he was assigned to oversee Special Operations
(2003), Administrative Services (2004) and Uniform Patrol
District I (2004).
In August of 2004
Director Godwin was named Interim Director of the Memphis Police
Department. In November of 2004 Godwin was appointed as
Director of Police Services for the City of Memphis.
To further enhance
his career goals, his education was advanced through studies at
the University of Memphis. His Bachelor of Science Degree was
earned through Liberty University.
He was selected in
2005 to participate and graduated from the Leadership Academy.
In addition he is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Memphis and 2008
graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute (NEI). He
also serves on the board of advisors for the University of
Tennessee’s Law
Enforcement Innovation Center.
He was recognized as
the 2006 U.S. Veteran Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the
Veteran’s Administration.
In 2006 he was
appointed to the Peace Officers Standards and Training
Commission (POST) by Governor Bredeson and continues to serve in
that capacity.
In 2006 he was
elected president of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of
Police (TACP). He is currently serving as chairman for the TACP/Tennessee
Public Safety Coalition Committee as well as serving on various
TACP committees.
He served as the
2006 president of the state-wide Tennessee Public Safety
Coalition. This coalition is made up of district attorney
generals, chiefs of police, and sheriffs.
He received the
Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) “Director’s
Choice Award” for the Western Division in 2007 and in 2008 he
received the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP)
“President’s Award”.
In 2008 he became
a founding board member of the Memphis Police Foundation and
currently serves as the president for the foundation.
During his early term as police
director he partnered with the University of Memphis’ Department
of Criminology to develop a successful working relationship that
to this day continues to enhance the police department’s ability
to make Memphis a safer city for all citizens.
In 2007, under the leadership of
Director Godwin, the Memphis Police Department received national
accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
Director Godwin has instituted
efficient policing through the Blue C.R.U.S.H.™ (Crime Reduction
Using Statistical History) methodology, which focuses on guns,
gangs, and drugs. Blue C.R.U.S.H™ has produced 3 consecutive
years of crime reduction in the City of Memphis; 2009 Crime was
down 15% compared to 2006. Director Godwin instituted the MPD’s
Felony Assault unit, the Criminal Apprehension Team, Hispanic
Action Response Team, and the Investigative Support unit.
In April 2008 he unveiled the
MPD’s Real Time Crime Center, a 24-hour-a-day video and digital
surveillance system which received the 2009 International
Association of Chiefs of Police “Excellence in Technology Award
for Interoperable Communications”.
Director Larry
Godwin is married to the former Nina Elizabeth Barlow. In
December of 2008, the couple celebrated their 36th
wedding anniversary. Together they have two sons (Anthony and
Lucian), one daughter (Angelina) and two grandsons (Peyton Allen
and Joshua).
