Weekly Update

Friends,

A couple months ago, I wrote a comprehensive review of efforts to reduce crime and what more needs to be done.  I want to update you on some promising developments that give me hope that better days are ahead.

First, I wrote about the benefits of the tougher federal sentences for gun crimes, but the need for additional resources, including prosecutors, to keep up with the volume of cases that MPD presents to federal officials for prosecution.

Recently, our U.S. Attorney (the federal prosecutor) announced expanded attention and resources to Memphis, including seven additional prosecutors. Thank you U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin Ritz for these actions.

Second, I wrote about state crimes:

“The message needs to be clear in Memphis:

• If you are charged with firing a gun at another person, you will be punished and spend many years in prison.
• If you are arrested for theft of or from a motor vehicle, there will be significant consequences”

This week, our DA announced a new initiative and said, “We want to make it clear that those who violate the law will be prosecuted, and those who engage in violence or repeat nonviolent offenses will face the consequences, including incarceration.” This is a substantial change in messaging, and I appreciate it.

I did not, however, see anything about returning to the former successful “No Deals” policy that helped to greatly reduce crime years ago. And one of the judges this week detailed real challenges to all of us concerned about the level of crime and the lack of consequences for criminal action. 

Judge Chris Craft said, “There are no trials happening because the DA’s office and Public Defender’s office are striking more plea deals than they ever have before.” He further explained that “those deals carry much lighter sentences than in previous years, so a defendant no longer feels the need to go to trial.”

As a result, we will have to see the new policy in action before celebrating too much. As the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.

Lastly, I wrote about our extensive efforts to provide our youth with positive experiences when they are not in school, including those youth who need active intervention.

Over the last few years, we have been working with State officials to get additional funding for intensive intervention with youth who are in gangs or involved in dangerous activities. Unfortunately, too often youth who break the law have little to no punishment or intervention. They are simply allowed to return to the friends who brought them trouble in the first place; in fact, these youth have traditionally been offered no other options and are forced by life’s circumstances to return to the same challenges without any guidance or help to make change.

Currently, we are executing on a $6 million state grant with Memphis Allies, who work with these high-risk youth multiple times per week to change the direction of their lives. This year, we were awarded a grant for $40 million for use over four years, which will begin to be used next year. While the details are still being developed, the grant is for “evidenced based” “violent crime intervention initiatives” in the nine zip codes in Memphis with the highest number of homicides from 2018 through 2022.

Thank you to Governor Bill Lee, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and the entire General Assembly who have worked with us over the last several years to obtain adequate funding to expand on our efforts to combat the root causes of crime.

Our Current Effort to Change Lives: As a reminder, the Group Violence Intervention Program (GVIP) proactively engages individuals most at risk for being involved in gun violence or retaliatory violence and provides resources to help those individuals make positive and non-violent choices. GVIP uses multiple intervention strategies - Street Intervention, Hospital Intervention, School Intervention, and Focused Deterrence. 

Street Intervention partners with 901 Bloc Squad, a team of highly trained interventionists who connect with individuals to promote positive choices and behavior changes. These interventionists are testaments of how changed behavior led to productive and positive lifestyles. Hospital Interventionists provide supportive services inside the hospital to victims of gun violence and their families. School Intervention has partnered with schools to provide onsite intervention against violence, offer referrals for mentorship, and encourage the pursuit of higher education while becoming positive assets within our communities. 

The Focused Deterrence program, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, US Attorney, Shelby County District Attorney, Memphis Police Department, and MSCS School Security, works to identify individuals and connects those individuals to readily available resources. During community call-ins and custom notifications, participants are informed about their risk of death and prosecution if they choose to continue engaging in violent crimes. Participants are encouraged to move forward in the right direction while listening to success stories from individuals who decided to become productive citizens after making better choices. Participants are also connected with multiple support programs capable of assisting individuals with job placement, GED preparation, mentorship, expungement, and many other resources. 

Here is an example of a success story. 

Lincoln Barnett, a Tennessee Department of Corrections-mandated GVIP call-in participant, advised that the resources and continuous support from GVIP were the deciding factors in his positive life changes. Lincoln said that, during the quarterly call-in that he attended, he was shocked to see the support provided by elected officials and the individuals working within GVIP. Lincoln expressed that the pivotal moment of change for him was hearing a speech from someone who had similar life experiences as he had who changed their life for the better.

“My experience with GVIP has been good, life-changing, and necessary. I’m thankful that this program was available to help me change my life and find employment. GVIP never treated me like a criminal or judged me about my past. They only wanted to help me become better and do the right thing. They saw me, encouraged me, and then followed up to make sure I was still good. That’s a great feeling! More people in the city need to know about this program because they can help change people’s minds and help them choose the right path like I did.”

For more information, visit https://www.vipmemphis.org/

More Police Recruits: I was happy to welcome 66 new MPD recruits on their first day this past Tuesday!

This brings the total at the academy to 113 working to be one of the Best in Blue.

Eight Year Summary: To see a complete list of the work we have accomplished over the last eight years, go here.

Merry Christmas: As we move closer to the Christmas holiday, we should all take time to reflect and be thankful for the gifts and blessings we have received this past year. I hope you can spend time with our families and friends, check on an elderly neighbor or volunteer at a nonprofit to help those less fortunate than us. If you’re traveling, please be safe, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours,