Two Memphis Police Department officers were arrested over the weekend after Tennessee state troopers accused them of racing their personal Corvettes on a public road.
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Spotted by a State Trooper
A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer reported seeing two silver Corvettes traveling side by side at high speed on Winchester Road near Hickory Hill. According to the trooper, both drivers slowed down after noticing the patrol vehicle, but were stopped before leaving the area.
Officers Identified
The drivers were identified as Memphis Police officers Albert Green and Raphael Willingham. According to the trooper’s account, Green denied that the two were racing, but the trooper’s observations led to both officers being cited. Records indicate one of the vehicles, a C8 Corvette convertible, is registered to Green.
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Charges and Department Response
Both officers face felony drag racing charges. They have been relieved of duty while the Memphis Police Department’s internal affairs division investigates the incident. The department confirmed both officers were benched pending the outcome of the review, and neither officer has publicly commented.
Part of a Broader Crackdown
The arrests come as Memphis officials have pledged to address a rise in illegal street takeovers in the city. Tennessee has taken a firmer stance on the issue as well, having reclassified drag racing as a felony offense since July, carrying potential prison time, significant fines, and permanent loss of the vehicle involved.