Cape police chief leaves for position at Memphis airport

After more than a decade at the helm of Cape Girardeau Police Department, chief Wes Blair is leaving the department for a position with the internal law enforcement organization at Memphis International Airport in Tennessee. The announcement came Monday, June 24.

Southeast Missourian file

After more than a decade at the helm of Cape Girardeau Police Department, chief Wes Blair is leaving the department to take a position at Memphis International Airport in Tennessee.

The announcement came in a news release from Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority.

Blair will be leading the airport’s internal law enforcement organization and will start work there in August.

“As the new police chief at Memphis International Airport, I am excited to join a dynamic team dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of travelers and staff,” Blair said in a news release from the airport. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to uphold the highest standard of law enforcement, collaborating with airport stakeholders to implement innovative strategies, and fostering a culture of professionalism within the organization. Together, we will continue to safeguard the airport community and uphold public trust in our services.”

According to its website, Memphis Airport Police Department has more than 50 commissioned law enforcement officers, 12 traffic enforcement officers and “specialized units with separate divisions for investigations and patrols”.

The airport itself is one of the highest-volume cargo facilities in the world, home to the shipping giant FedEx. It also serves as base for the 164th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard.

“Wes Blair comes to Memphis International Airport with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement. His education, tenure of service and commitment to public safety speaks for itself. I am confident that he will be a great asset to us and serve in a vital role as we continue to prioritize safety,” MSCAA President and CEO Terry Blue said.

Blair took over as police chief in Cape Girardeau in July 2013. A native of Dallas, he had previously served as a border patrol agent and an air marshal.

During his tenure as chief, he oversaw construction of a new departmental headquarters, located at 2530 Maria Louise Lane, and emphasized crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques and training.

Blair is pursuing a doctoral degree in criminal justice, focusing his studies on the perception of college education relating to police officers’ job skills. He told the Southeast Missourian in February that higher education develops critical thinking skills.

“I think it makes you a better critical decision-maker. I think it opens up opportunities that you may have not had before.”

Blair is replacing MSCAA’s current and longtime police chief Jerry Brandon, who is retiring in the fall.