Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis presented the update, along with details of the ongoing Memphis Safe Task Force, to the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, March 3.
All nine police precincts across the city continue to see drastic reductions in crime as the post-COVID trend continues to accelerate. Moreover, the decreases continue across every category of crime, from murder to petty theft.
“Obviously there is still work to do, but this right here is something for us all to celebrate in all of our districts because it’s citywide,” said committee chair Ford Canale.
According to end-of-the-year data, the across-the-board drop includes a 26% decrease in murder, while aggravated assaults fell by 22%. There was a similar decrease in sexual assaults. The trend includes property crimes, with a 33% drop in robberies. Burglaries and larcenies — mainly shoplifting — also fell by more than 20%, respectively.
No category experienced a more significant drop than motor vehicle theft. In 2025, there were 1,097 thefts in the month of January. This year, the first month of the calendar year saw only 344 reported vehicle thefts.
“That’s a huge drop right there. We are all really excited and happy about that because our auto thefts were a bit of a nemesis for the city in the last couple of years. A huge reduction. It’s almost 60% down,” Davis said.
The law-abiding trend is also noticeable month to month. In February, there were 1,678 reported crimes in the city, down from 1,908 in January. According to Davis, there were about 7,000 fewer calls for service, which puts less stress on the undermanned MPD complement.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has also relieved stress on the MPD. Since being deployed in October, the supplemental federal and state law enforcement agencies have worked in coordination with the department in largely focused efforts.
Over that span, 3,155 felony arrests have been made in Memphis.
“We started communicating from day one about what was needed in the city,” Davis said. “We meet every morning virtually to really discuss the numbers and where the focus has been on the previous 24 hours.”
However, the city’s top cop conceded there are some federal forces working independently of the department.
“Of course, you may have some of them doing other types of work without us. But for the most part, the lion’s share of the work is being done aligned with Memphis police officers,” Davis said. “With the exception of immigration.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has stated that the city will not cooperate with ICE on traffic stops or immigration matters. Instead, law enforcement will remain focused on the apprehension of violent offenders.
Yet, the most controversial part of the task force’s creation was President Donald Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to Memphis. During the discussion, Davis mollified concerns about their use. She pointed out that Guard personnel have been patrolling Memphis’ streets for quite some time.
“Many of our officers are National Guard members,” Davis said.
In addition to being a presence on the city’s streets, the triumvirate of external assets have also attempted to assuage local concerns. Department of Homeland Security and Guard personnel recently showed up at a White Station neighborhood watch meeting to answer lingering questions.
“It was really informative,” said Yolando Cooper-Sutton. “Questions that were just boiling in the minds of constituents — they were able to ask them. They were very transparent.”
Davis also spoke to the council about the status of MPD officer Oscar Molina-Torres, who was shot while conducting a traffic stop on Feb. 26. The U.S. Marshals Service is currently offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 40-year-old Danell Maxwell.
Several council members visited Molina-Torres while he was in the hospital. He has since been released.
“I was collapsed by what I saw,” said Canale. “He is a true walking, talking miracle. No doubt that he had his guardian angels with him on that day because it could have been very different very quickly.”
