I interviewed my grandfather, Tom C., who was a part of the Shelby County Sheriffs department. He lived in Bartlett at the time and he said that at the time, the city very clean and nothing like it is now. He also said there was not near as many crimes. In 1968 Tom was working in the Shelby County jail. He said it was much different from today in Memphis because there is much more crime and race problems.
At the exact time of King's death, Tom was at his work in the jail and as soon as he was assassinated, riots began. After the riots began, all the officers and other forces had to join and control the riots. He said that the day was just mass chaos and that officers were having to work 24 hour shifts for 3 days straight. He said that throughout the night it got worse than ever. The night after King was shot rioting and burning the city down began. Businesses began to shut down all over the city.
Tom thought that King was a peaceful protestor and that he would not want any of this rioting after his death. After his death many people could not get over the problem of racism and how the whole city changed when it came to whites and blacks. Many started hating each other and had serious issues with one another.