Federal Surgeโ Targets memphis Crime as Governor Pledges Long-Term Support
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced a important increaseโ in federal โขresources โฃdedicatedโ toโ combating crime in Memphis onโ September 15, signalingโข a sustained โฃeffort โto improve public safety in the city. The move comes amid heightened concerns following a recent spike inโฃ violent crimeโ and follows an announcement from former President โDonald Trump committing federal support.
Theโ influx of aid isn’t โa temporary โmeasure, officials stressed. “Itโ will operate as โlong as it takes,” Lee stated, outlining a vision for Memphisโ to become “a safe cityโฆa place whereโข peopleโ have โขno concernsโฃ about going out with their family, about locating their business.” He defined success as Memphis being recognizedโ “as oneโค of the safest places in โคAmerica.”
The state will contribute โค$100 million to โขMemphis for public safety initiatives and deploy 300โ state troopers, withโข 100 on the ground in Shelby County at anyโข given time. This supplements the existing โlaw enforcement presenceโฃ of over 2,000 Memphis Police Department officers and more โคthan โฃ600 Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Federal troops โฃand agents โคare also being deployed as โpart of the effort.
Former president Trump initially announced plans to sendโค the โnational Guard toโข Memphis on Septemberโ 12, signing an โคexecutive order โestablishing a task force to oversee the mission on September 15. Trump has โpreviously considered deploying federal โคforcesโฃ to other cities facing โcrime challenges, including Chicago, New โOrleans, and Portland, often contingent on requests from state governors. He indicated Chicago may be the next target for federalโ assistance following Memphis.