Gov. Bill Lee announced the federally backed Memphis Safe Task Force will “ramp up” operations starting next week, during a press conference in Memphis on Friday, Sept. 26.
Operations will “ramp up” beginning Monday, Sept. 29, and continue for “the next few weeks.”
“This is a violent crime and a drug eradication effort,” said Lee. “These are law enforcement operations that are coming together.”
Along with 13 federal agencies on loan to assist in anti-crime efforts, National Guard troops will be deployed to the city as a “force multiplier” that will serve in a “support role” to local law enforcement.
“The Guard will not be making arrests,” said Lee. “The Guard will not be armed, except and unless the local law enforcement makes requests for that.”
Although Lee didn’t offer a number of who would be deployed, he said more Guard troops could be added as needed. Those deployed will be from the ranks of the Tennessee National Guard.
Lee also assigned about 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to the region. With the call-up, “there should be almost 100 on duty at any one time.” Along with boots on the ground, $100 million in federal dollars will also be dedicated to the effort. Some of the money will go toward technology and “Downtown safety efforts.”
“It’s an effort to combine what we are doing with this task force with additional resources from the state to magnify the effectiveness of this,” said Lee. “Never before has a city in this country had access to the level of resources that’s about to be made to the City of Memphis.”
The extra muscle is expected to yield “hundreds” of arrests. According to Lee, the apprehension of violent criminals, drug traffickers and smugglers will be the focus. With the Shelby County Jail at capacity, more beds are being sought. Some arrested could end up in a federal facility, state prison or county jail in the region. Adjacent states are another option.
The announcement ends weeks of suspense around a rumored deployment. President Donald Trump announced his intentions to deploy personnel to the city on Sept. 12. Lee discussed the issue with the president in the Oval Office last week, before authorizing the mobilization.
“It will happen over the next weeks and months. Most importantly, this will be a sustained effort,” said Lee.
For some, the timing of the order is odd. Lee said in August the deployment of troops wasn’t necessary.
Moreover, Memphis is in the midst of its lowest crime rate in 25 years. According to Mayor Paul Young, an across-the-board decrease has ranged from violent crimes to property crimes. He also dismissed rumors that the numbers weren’t an accurate reflection of the city’s crime problem.
“The facts are the facts. In 2024, we saw a 13% reduction in overall crime. A 19% reduction in violent crime, 29% reduction in murders, 37% reduction in car thefts. In 2025, we’re on par to have the same level of reductions, if not more,” said Young.
Still, Young agrees that more needs to be done.
“But the reality is still the reality. Crime still exists. I never said crime was over,” said Young. “We know that we have a lot of work to do to get crime at a level where people really feel it.”
Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis concurred. In her opinion, the “open-ended” operation is only expected to put another “dent” in the city’s crime rate.
“Our community efforts want relief. They want to know there is a concerted effort and a focus on violent crime. And looking for those individuals who continue to commit crimes in our city,” said Davis.
The governor offered no end date for the deployment.
“It will operate as long as it takes,” said Lee.
