Building Together: City of Memphis Weekly Newsletter

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This past week, I had the opportunity to participate in important work alongside the University of Maryland’s Violence Reduction Collaborative (VRC), a highly regarded academic center focusing on best practices for gun violence reduction. We gathered with law enforcement partners, community leaders, government, and researchers to have a multi-day working session dedicated solely to violence reduction. This convening was not just another meeting; it was a pivotal moment for our community as we confronted the urgent issue of gun violence that affects all of us - and it does affect all of us. 

Together, we discussed the root causes of violence, the data needed to analyze the problem, and the work that needs to be done to set the stage for meaningful change throughout all of our neighborhoods. Our work began by getting a clearer understanding of our challenges and moved on to identify innovative strategies designed to move our city forward, including focused deterrence and Group Violence Intervention work. 

We began the week by reviewing preliminary data from our Gun Problem Analysis to help us better understand the current state of violence in Memphis. We looked at the Memphis homicide count from 2008-2024, focusing on our city’s violent crime occurring between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024. What we learned was eye-opening.

In Memphis, we have a long-held belief that juveniles significantly contribute to violent crime, but what I learned last week is that only 9.6% of homicide perpetrators and 10.7% of all homicide victims are under the age of 18. And only 6.8% of nonfatal shooting suspects and 7.8% of all victims are under the same age. This means that if we completely solved the gun violence problem for this age bracket, we would only reduce homicides and nonfatal shootings by less than 10%. 

And while we will remain focused on all violent crime, our primary goal is bigger than 10%; we want to save lives and change our community by reducing homicides and nonfatal shootings by 40% over the next four years.

We looked into the specific mechanisms of violence in Memphis. As we all are aware, guns are at the center of much of our city’s violent crime. According to the data, there were more than seven thousand guns stolen in our community during the study period, and nearly  60% of those stolen guns - over 4000 - were stolen from cars. 

We also learned about the prevalence of gang affiliation in the overall crime rate in our city. Collectively, MPD officers estimated that 65+% of shootings are committed by gang members, regardless of the actual motive of the shooting. MPD officers also identified more than 90 specific individuals who are considered primary drivers of gun violence in Memphis; approximately 15-20 of those individuals were identified by multiple precincts. 

These data sets highlight the point that while policing is critically important, we can make significant advances in our war on violence with community involvement and behavior change. If we can convince more people to leave their guns at home, we will reduce the stolen gun problem, and I believe we will reduce gun violence in our city. If we can positively impact the lives of those who are gang-affiliated and of those individuals involved in propagating violence, we can truly begin to heal our community.

A central goal of our week together was to solidify a strong action plan with a clear mission: to reduce homicides and nonfatal shootings in Memphis by 40 percent over the next four years. This commitment reflects my dedication to bettering our community by saving lives and ensuring that every Memphian feels safe in their neighborhood. Our vision is to actively engage the vulnerable communities most affected by violence, promoting safety and resilience. 

We emerged from the practicum with five key components that will guide our comprehensive action plan: 

1. Comprehensive Gun Violence Problem Analysis: By the end of April, working closely with MPD, we will gain a clear understanding of Memphis’ violent crime landscape by focusing on the individuals most responsible for driving crime. The analysis will review two years of data for each fatal and nonfatal shooting and map the victims and suspects to determine the root issues driving gun violence 
2. Focused Deterrence/GVI: This means working with those individuals who are most likely to be a shooter or to be a victim of a shooting and implementing strategies to pull them away from violence and toward a more productive path. We will revisit and realign this strategy with national best practices to reinforce our long-term commitment to violence reduction.
3. Organized Street Outreach: Utilizing our many community-wide outreach partners and initiatives, we will connect with high-risk individuals. This broad approach ensures we engage everyone who needs our support.
4. Enhanced Prevention and Intervention Services: We will continue to prioritize strengthening community-based interventions to ensure effective resources reach those most in need.
5. Place-Based Approaches: We will continue revitalizing initiatives like Code Zero to focus our efforts on high-risk areas of our city, fostering collaboration between the community and law enforcement. 

I believe this work is critical to creating the Memphis we all deserve. I never forget that every data-point on our homicide tracker represents a life lost to violence. Each point is a person. Every loss of life to violence represents the end of so many possibilities - for both the victim and the suspect. And my goal is to increase the possibilities for each of us and for our city.

After spending a few days leaning into the work, I am even more convinced that with the right approach, we can significantly change our city’s future. My goal is a safer, stronger, more prosperous Memphis. And looking at the progress we have already made in reducing crime and restoring peace, I believe we are solidly on the journey toward that Memphis. The journey will require the commitment of city officials, law enforcement, community groups, and it will also require the commitment and active participation of every one of you. 

Reducing violence is a shared responsibility; we need everyone working together to truly address the root causes and heal some of the generational hurt that exists in our city. I am certain that by working together, we will change the course and continue our rise. 

Good News!

Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov

Weekly Crime Trend

The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024.

(We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.)

Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38107, 38109, 38114, 38118, 38127

Community Announcement

Attention vehicle owners: Personal vehicle registration rates change in February 2025. As an example: Class C passenger motor vehicles rates go from $30 to $60 annually. For more information call the Shelby County Clerk's Motor Vehicle Division at 901-222-3000.

In the Know:

LISC Memphis Capacity Building Workshop. Calling all nonprofits! LISC Memphis is hosting a Capacity Building Workshop on February 26, from 9:30am to 1:00pm at 6584 Poplar Avenue, Floor 2, Memphis, TN 38138. This session covers nonprofit essentials like board governance, financial management, and organizational growth. Strengthen your nonprofit with expert insights and practical tools. Seating is limited—register today! Register here.

901HELP: Memphis Home Empowerment Loan Program. Memphis homeowners needing financial assistance for home repairs can apply for 901HELP, a low-interest loan program offering between $5,000 and $25,000 for eligible residents. The program covers essential repairs like roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and accessibility modifications while providing construction oversight and financial education. Applications are open now—see if you qualify and apply today! Learn more and apply here.

Core City District Workshop. Join Memphis 3.0 for the Core City District Workshops. This is a great opportunity to share ideas, voice concerns, and collaborate with neighbors and planners to discuss the land use priorities for the Core City District. Be there for the next workshop on Thursday, February 20 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Food wil be provided. See more and RSVP here. 

Social and Community Engagement:

Valentine’s Day in Memphis. Love is in the air! Whether you’re celebrating yourself, your friends, or your special someone, Memphis has something for everyone this Valentine’s season. From romantic dinners to fun Galentine’s gatherings, make the most of the festivities in the 901. Spread the love and plan your perfect celebration! See more of Choose901’s Valentine’s Day guide here. 

Solid Waste Holiday Schedule. Plan ahead for Presidents’ Day and be sure to look at the Solid Waste pick-up schedule for residents that gets trash picked up by the City of Memphis. See more details and share here. 

HCD Housing Summit. Join Memphis Housing & Community Development transformative two-day event focused on shaping the future of housing through preservation, development, and equity on February 20-21. This summit brings together national experts, advocates, and local leaders to tackle the most pressing issues in housing today, from fair financing to policy advocacy. See full details and sign up here. 

Memphis Public Libraries.  Need help filing your taxes? The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service is offering free assistance for first-time filers and those facing tax issues. Visit the 3rd floor of the Benjamin Hooks Central Library every other Thursday during tax season for expert guidance. One-on-one assistance requires a government-issued ID. Learn more about your taxpayer rights and get tax tips here.

Stay Connected:

in partnership and progress,

Paul A. Young