Friends,
The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission released its quarterly crime rate report today, and the numbers are absolutely unacceptable.
We have a 9.9 percent rise, year over year, in major violent crime. And we have a 10.6 percent rise in major property crime.
Homicides are down by 12.2 percent.
We’re confronting this head-on in today’s Weekly Update because you deserve to hear from us what we’re doing to reduce these levels. Today’s news only further illustrates why I’ve made long-term crime reduction such a priority since my first day as your mayor.
Rebuilding MPD’s staffing has been a key area of emphasis. Because of our efforts, the largest class in seven years will graduate from the academy in three weeks, and we look for the 2017 classes to provide the first net gain of officers in seven years. Along with all we’ve done to improve compensation and retain officers, we’re well on the way to get out of this ditch we were in when we took office.
Simply put, help is on the way for MPD.
We group our crime reduction efforts into five areas. Here they are, with items we've acted on listed in each category:
Rebuilding MPD (We had 2,452 officers in November 2011; we have 1,915 today -- the lowest number in at least a decade.)
Offering more for our youth (A 2015 study showed that Memphis had the highest percentage of “disconnected” youth -- who either aren’t in school or aren’t employed -- in the country.)
Reducing recidivism
Increasing economic opportunity
Lobbying for stiffer sentences for violent crime
We also want you to join us in our action. Get involved in helping our young people pick the right path in life by mentoring or by reading to a kid. You can learn more at memphistn.gov/calltoaction.
This week, I saw a quote that stuck with me: “A leader’s job is to paint reality and give hope.” In today’s Weekly Update, we’re doing both. This is the real situation we’re working to reverse, and above are the tangible items -- along with all the momentum in our city that I highlighted last week -- that give me the certainty that we’re on the right track.
You elected me to implement long-term solutions to the systemic issues we’ve faced in Memphis for generations. We’re doing that. Reducing violent crime is our No. 1 long-term priority for the future of Memphis. Today’s news only strengthens my resolve to continue all we’re doing to make that happen.
Yours,