MEMPHIS, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Officials in Memphis, Tenn., are investigating who installed electronic listening devices in ceiling tiles at the local Homeland Security office.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on November 2 that the Shelby County Sheriff's Office has not publicly commented on its investigation.
Shelby County Commissioner David Lillard has referred obliquely to "personal animosities" being involved.
Since 2002, Memphis municipal officials have received $8.2 million in federal funding for infrastructure protection and port security to assist in thwarting possible terrorist attacks. In all, Memphis and surrounding counties have received $12.4 million under the federal Urban Area Security Initiative program, and the city expects to receive a $6.5 million grant to upgrade the security and surveillance of the Interstate 55 and Interstate 40 river bridges across the Mississippi.
Memphis Mayor A. C. Wharton has appointed former Memphis police director Walter Crews to head the operation and retired Criminal Court Judge Joseph Dailey to oversee the county's internal investigation.
Local media initially reported that the listening devices were discovered in an FBI sweep, a claim that was later retracted.
