Memphis Cop Fired for Fatal Crash
Alex Beard, 23, was fired Monday following a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He was charged with failing to adhere to regulations regarding responding to calls, personal conduct and motor-vehicle damage.
A Memphis Police officer involved in an on-duty crash that killed two people last year has been fired following a state investigation, police said Tuesday.
Alex Beard, 23, was fired Monday following a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He was charged with failing to adhere to regulations regarding responding to calls, personal conduct and motor-vehicle damage.
The fatal crash happened about 3 p.m. Aug. 26 at Crump and Walnut near Downtown. Beard, heading east on Crump, was responding to a request for help from another officer. Police said Beard ran a red light without his lights or sirens on, a violation of department policy.
His car collided with a 1996 Mercury Mystique, which was heading west on Crump and turning south on Walnut. The collision killed Mackala Ross, 13, and Delores Epps, 54.
Read the full Commercial Appeal story.
More Vehicle Ops

Tenhold Introduces Suppressor Gun Rack System
Tenhold, formerly Jotto Desk, provides next-generation vehicle systems for law enforcement and public safety and recently debuted its Suppressor Lock Head for its Weapon Mounting system.
Read More →
Ram Debuts Pursuit-Capable 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle
The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is the first and only ¾-ton truck to complete the Michigan State Police vehicle trials, and Ram said it delivered outstanding performance in testing scenarios designed to replicate extreme real-world duty.
Read More →
How Data-Driven Fleet Management Is Changing Public Safety Operations
Police agencies are leveraging fleet data to reduce collisions, improve officer safety, control maintenance costs, and strengthen public accountability. This ebook explores how modern telematics and fleet management technology are helping departments operate more efficiently while maximizing taxpayer resources.
Read More →
Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Opens New Facility in New Jersey
LEHR’s new centralized upfitting facility in New Jersey consolidates operations to deliver faster turnaround times and enhanced fleet capacity for law enforcement agencies across the Northeast.
Read More →
North Carolina Sheriff’s Office Improves Fueling Reliability & Operational Control
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office overcame fuel management and accounting challenges by turning to RoadFlex to improve fueling reliability, visibility, and administrative control.
Read More →
Emergency Vehicle Upfitter LEHR Expands National Footprint with New 40,000-Square-Foot Facility in Houston
LEHR has opened a 40,000-square-foot Defender Supply upfitting facility in Houston, Texas. It is expected to upfit thousands of public safety vehicles each year.
Read More →How to Pick Your High-Risk Stop Location for Tactical Advantage
Hear veteran trainer Mike Willis, of the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, explain several considerations that can help you wisely pick your best spot to initiate high-risk or felony traffic stops.
Read More →Coffee Break with Police Experts: Using Your Patrol Vehicle for Cover
In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
Ford Celebrates 75 Years of Making Patrol Vehicles
From 1950 to 2025, Ford has produced many of America’s most iconic law enforcement cars, SUVs, and trucks. POLICE Magazine takes you through the history of Ford’s police vehicles.
Read More →
Using Patrol Vehicles for Cover
While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.
Read More →