Leaders from Memphis and Shelby County were joined by a White House official to announce the creation of the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement to prevent gun violence on Thursday, Nov. 14.
“This is historic because you are blessed to have leaders that have the vision to take on a health crisis and turn it around and invest in resources and strategies to address that crisis,” said Greg Jackson, Deputy Director of White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
The department was founded in 2023 by the Biden Administration.
“You are now looking at a team that can draw down now over $30 billion in resources to prevent violence, not solve yesterday’s crime, but prevent today’s health crisis,” said Jackson.
Still, there are concerns the funding could be shortlived. With the election of Donald Trump, any gun control sentiment in the Oval Office will likely end. Some of the money is only on paper too. Only half has been appropriated. However, the $15 billion already secured through the bi-partisan Safer Communities Act gives the joint office time – and hope.
If federal funding ultimately dries up, both Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris vowed to find other sources.
The joint office will allow area leaders to speak with one voice, while attempting to acquire funding from federal and state sources to battle the epidemic of gun violence. In the past, the separate governments’ departments haven’t worked from the same page.
Like federal bureaucracies pre-9/11, they were “siloed.” Each competed for various grants. Each wary of one another, likewise with local nonprofits.
“The most important part of this new office is the word, joint,” said Harris. “The new office will help these various agencies work together.”
From there, resources are expected to concentrated on hot spots for gun violence.
“The kids in our city couldn’t care less about our bureaucracy. They don’t care about whether it’s the city, the county, the feds, the state – they just want help,” said Young.
The idea for an office in Memphis was first tossed around during a late Aug. 2023 crime summit hosted by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Similar offices are already in operation in Baltimore, Atlanta and other cites.
“The City of Pittsburgh did the same thing and in the first year, they saw a 42% reduction,” said Jackson.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Assistant Superintendent Valerie Matthews has been named director. City of Memphis Program Manager Tamika Williams will serve as deputy director. The pair are expected to lead a data-driven effort, which will allow leaders to target resources.
“We are focused on four key areas…inform, integrate, invest, and innovate,” said Matthews. “Our efforts will extend not only to wraparound support, not only for victims, but also with individuals most at risk for engaging in violence – particularly acts of violence that involve guns.”
The announcement follows a flurry of activity around curbing gun violence in the Bluff City.
On Tuesday, Nov. 12 lobbying group Gun Owners of America announced a lawsuit against the City of Memphis, after city voters decisively passed three gun control referendums. Along with declaring gun violence a health hazard, another bans permitless carry of handguns and prohibits assault weapons in Memphis. State law currently allows both.
The third permits courts to order law enforcement agencies to seize firearms from a person considered a threat to others, or themselves.
