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Us Against Them (11 images)

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  • Several individuals on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee manufacture and distribute narcotics. Addicted to fast and "easy" money, most simply do not believe in working an honest job. Imprisonment may enter into one's mind for a brief moment, but the response is usually "I'm out here taking penitentiary chances because this is all I know, and this is what works for me." This particular distributer had no problems with me documenting him as long as I didn't show their identity.

  • Photo by Justin Shaw. MPD Officer Bob Parker Jr. holds a round from an SKS Semi Automatic Rifle that was left behind by individuals who gave chase when officers responded.

  • After standing on his feet for close to 10 hours cutting hair, this Memphis, Tenn barber pulls out his stash of cocaine to "take the load off" after work. "I'm not addicted or anything, it's just a litttle something."

  • Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies respond to a domestic viloence call in East Memphis, Tenn.

  • After chasing an individual doing 90 mph down a city street Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Randy Kramer interrogates him asking "where's the fire?". The man claimed "his pregnant girlfriend was feeling sick" so he was " to be there for her".

  • Suspects await a trip to the Shelby County Jail inside the Memphis Police Department's prisoner transport van after being rounded up in morning raids throughout the city Thursday. Memphis police made some 30 arrest by mid morning on a variety of drug charges stemming from some 119 indictments against 51 people, the remainder of which police hoped to have in custody by the end of the day.

  • Flex Cuffs, an alternate set of handcuffs, are used to restrain prisoners in the Memphis Police Department's prisoner transport van after being rounded up in morning raids throughout the city Thursday.

  • With the sudden rush of hispanic immigrants to Memphis, the Los Surenos came along with them. It's a Mexican American criminal organization, and is one of the oldest and most powerful prison gangs in the United States. The number 13 is synonomous with any Latino gang. The process for initian requires the inductee to undergo 13 seconds of beat down (the inductee is not allowed to protect himself in any way).

  • With a newly purchased piece of rocked cocaine "Grip", as he's called by friends, gets exactly what he paid for as he test the purity and potency of the rock. "I'm looking for a certain "tingle" to know it's real", he said. He'll experience a brief moment of ecstasy before searching for his next score.

  • Memphis Police Officer Lt. Terry Lyons with the Crisis Intervention Team prepares his SL6 Six Shot Semi-automatic Projectile Launcher. After you get passed the intimidation factor of it, the gun actually shoots rubber bullets, about the size of a baby's fist. "We use these for mentally challenged individuals so we wont have to shoot them, just subdue them" Lyons said.

  • Memphis Police Officer Joyce Johnson fills out a report on a suspect apprehended for possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect puts forth futile efforts to talk her way out of imprisonment.