Kendrick Consent Decree

On December 21, 2018, the Honorable Jon P. McCalla, United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, appointed Edward L. Stanton III and his team of subject matter experts (collectively, the “Monitoring Team”) as the Court’s independent monitor to monitor the progress of the City of Memphis’s compliance with Order, Judgment and Decree for Civil Case 76-449 (“Kendrick Consent Decree”). The Kendrick Consent Decree represents the ACLU’s and the City of Memphis’s agreement regarding the City’s various policing activities and protocols that may implicate the public’s First Amendment rights. In furtherance of the Monitoring Team’s goals of transparency and accountability to the public, the Team has created this website to provide the public with convenient access to important Court filings, Monitor reports, and a host of other materials.

In January 2025, the Court approved the Kendrick Consent Decree Sustainment Proposal, designating MPD Legal Advisors James Thomas, along with one additional police officer, to serve as Compliance Officers. The proposal also provides for the appointment of three subject matter experts (SMEs) to support and advise the Compliance Officers in their duties. Furthermore, the proposal outlines a transition period leading into a sustainment phase, projected to last between 18 and 24 months.

Jimmy Thomas currently the Senior Legal Advisor for the Memphis Police Department.
Previously I was a Felony Assistant with the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office assigned to the Special Prosecution Unit.

I have considerable experience as a trial and appellate attorney, as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. I have tried criminal cases, in both state and federal court, in multiple jurisdictions. I have defended and prosecuted numerous murder cases. The State of Tennessee filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty in seven of these cases that I defended. None of my former clients are on death row.

I have also been counsel of record, or have written briefs, for more than 100 appeals, including two death penalty appeals, before the Tennessee state appellate courts. I have been counsel of record on numerous appellate matters before the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal. I have published opinions in both the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Tennessee Supreme Court.

I also teach constitutional law, civil liability, juvenile law and general Tennessee criminal law to law enforcement professionals throughout the state of Tennessee. I have also been an instructor with Training Resource Group, training law enforcement professionals in continued inservice requirements in West Tennessee.

I was honorably discharged from U. S. Navy, Navy Reserves, U.S Army and the Tennessee State Guard. While in the U.S. Navy I served on board USS Ranger CV-61. In the Navy Reserves I was assigned to USS Copeland FFG-25 and Special Boat Unit 13. I retired from the Tennessee State Guard in 2013, with my final posting as the Commanding Officer, First Regiment, Tennessee State Guard, headquartered at Naval Support Activity in Millington, Tennessee.

James F. Pastor is the founder and principal expert of SecureLaw LLC, a legal and security consultancy. He is a multifaceted public safety and security expert with a rich background that spans policing, security, law, and academia. Starting as a tactical officer in Gang Crime Enforcement with the Chicago Police Department, this real-world experience laid the groundwork for his extensive expertise in one of the nation’s most dynamic policing environments.

Transitioning to the courtroom, Dr. Pastor built a distinguished legal career representing police unions, security guard firms, and electronic security companies.  With a doctorate in Public Policy Analysis, this academic insight, combined with his practical experience, gives him a unique perspective on risk and liability, making him a sought-after advisor for corporations and communities seeking to prevent crime or mitigate its impacts. Dr. Pastor’s “security sense” is a blend of street-level policing intuition, academic scholarship, legal expertise, and technical know-how. These are furthered by a decades-long study of terrorism and extremism, fostering valuable insights and perspective in contemporary geo-political trends.

Professional highlights also include over 20 years of university teaching experience in policing, public safety, and security, including Northwestern University-Center for Public Safety and the International Law Enforcement Academy. He has published several articles in professional and academic journals and authored four books: You Say You Want a Revolution: A Compelling & Cautionary Tale of What Lies Ahead (2022); Terrorism & Public Safety Policing: Implications for the Obama Presidency (2009); Security Law and Methods (2006); The Privatization of Police in America: An Analysis and Case Study (2003).

Rachel Levinson-Waldman serves as Director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, where she leads work focused on privacy, surveillance, artificial intelligence, and government accountability. Her research and advocacy examine the intersection of emerging technologies, civil liberties and civil rights, and democratic governance, and she has researched and published extensively on the use of social media by police departments and federal government agencies. In 2024, she served as an Ian Axford Fellow in Public Policy at the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner, where she published a report on the New Zealand government’s use of social media for information gathering, fraud detection, risk assessment, and investigations. She has published in law journals and regularly comments for television, radio, and print media on issues relating to privacy and surveillance. Prior to joining the Brennan Center, Rachel served as in-house counsel to the American Association of University Professors and as a Trial Attorney in the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School.

Daniel J. Brown, MPA, serves as a Federal Court-Appointed Subject Matter Expert supporting oversight activities associated with the Modified Kendrick Consent Decree in Memphis, Tennessee. Appointed by the United States District Court, he evaluates agency training systems, training implementation, and compliance with court-mandated requirements while providing independent assessments and recommendations regarding training effectiveness, accountability, and organizational performance. Mr. Brown brings more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement, municipal government, risk management, organizational assessment, and executive leadership. His background includes service as a chief of police, city manager, law enforcement risk management consultant, and nationally recognized expert in public safety operations and professional standards. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police. Throughout his career, he has worked with agencies across the United States to improve accountability, strengthen organizational performance, enhance training systems, and promote public trust.