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Sunday’s shooting at Tom Lee Park was heartbreaking, infuriating, and unacceptable. And, unfortunately, it capped off a week of entirely too many incidents of violence in our community – from the mass shooting at a Memphis Allies meeting to a child being shot while playing in their own front yard.
As I said in the immediate aftermath: Enough is enough.
Tom Lee Park is one of our crown jewels – our front porch to the river, a symbol of connection, healing, and joy. The reckless violence that took place there stands in dark contrast to the joyful welcoming spirit of the space. We cannot and will not allow that incident to diminish the joy of the space. We have immediately asked our partners at Memphis River Parks Partnership to change their event requirements to require private security and screening for all large events. But we know this isn’t enough. We need to keep guns out of our parks and public spaces.
You can trust me on this - we are not standing still on finding ways to make sure we keep these sacred spaces safe. But we also want to ask you, as community members to talk with your family and friends about the role each of us can play in keeping in our greater community safe. If the person who fired that deadly shot last Sunday didn’t have a gun, the result might have been a thrown punch or angry words. The gun made that argument a tragedy and that is not okay in my city.
 Our administration is taking bold, strategic action to protect our city. We are ramping up our war on crime through prevention and enforcement – and we’re doing it with new leadership, new technology, and renewed urgency.
New Leadership. I’m proud to announce the appointment of Darren Goods as our new Public Safety Advisor, reporting directly to me and will have oversight of our Group Violence Intervention Program (GVIP) and our recently formed Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (JONSE).
Darren brings more than 35 years of frontline experience with the Memphis Police Department, and most recently served as Deputy Commissioner of Juvenile Justice for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. He understands the full spectrum of public safety, from crime suppression to prevention and intervention. Darren's role is made possible through a partnership with the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission, for which we are grateful.
New Tech. We’re also investing in cutting-edge crime-fighting tools. Our new Downtown Command Center, opening next week, will serve as a 24/7 hub for monitoring, coordination, and response. It’s part of a larger strategy to build a safer, stronger, smarter Memphis. MPD is continuing to work with other local & state agencies to address traffic safety. MPD has also redeployed numerous assets, strategically throughout the City to address unsanctioned/permitless events and to monitor those that are permitted.
Our crime-fighting toolkit is getting stronger, over the last year, we’ve:
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Expanded our Real Time Crime Center with upgraded Fusus AI video systems
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Installed 1,376 new cameras in and on city facilities
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Deployed 228 AI-enabled 4K traffic cameras at high-priority intersections
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Digitized over 100 intersections for faster and smarter traffic data sharing
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Upgraded fiber networks and firewalls to ensure reliable, real-time coordination
These tools give our officers more information, more visibility, and more power to stop crime before it happens.
 Renewed Urgency. This isn’t just about technology or enforcement – it’s about accountability and action.
The city will pursue the fullest extent of the law for violent offenders. But we are also investing in early intervention, youth outreach, and proven community-based strategies to stop the cycle of violence before it starts. That’s the vision behind JONSE. That’s why we’re supporting local partners like Memphis Allies, Heal 901 and 901 BLOC Squad. That’s why we’re standing up and supporting programs that connect justice-involved youth to mentors, jobs, and hope.
We Are Memphis. And We Will Not Back Down. We are not giving in to chaos. We are not standing down. We will continue doing all the hard work necessary to make Memphis stronger and safer. And that means if you create mayhem in Memphis, we will find you and we will push for quick prosecution. We will win the war against violence in Memphis. This is a promise.
And while we are saying no to violence, our administration is saying yes to progress, yes to protection, and yes to partnership.
To the people of Memphis: Your safety is my top priority. And while one act of violence can shake us, it will not define us. It will not deter us. We are stronger than that. And together we will the war on violence in our community.
(Watch our full budget presentation to City Council here. Flip through the slides here.)
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, 38111, 38114, 38118, 38119, 38122, 38127, 38128
Community Announcement:
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
In the Know:
Safer Memphis 365 Meeting. Join the Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement on Wednesday, April 23, from 5:30pm - 6:30pm at Riverside MB Church for an evening focused on violence reduction strategies, community collaboration, and safety. Be part of the conversation—and the solution. RSVP by Monday, April 21, to ensure your spot. See more details and RSVP here.
Safety Action Plan. We want to hear from you! Your input is essential in shaping safer streets for Memphis. The City of Memphis is developing a Safety Action Plan aimed at significantly reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. To ensure the plan reflects the community's needs and concerns, we invite you to participate in a brief survey. Your feedback will help identify key safety issues and guide effective solutions. See more and get involved here.
Neighborhood Watch: Build a Safer Community. Take action against crime in your neighborhood by joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch group through your local MPD station. Get resources, guidance, and access to the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Grant to support safety initiatives. Eligible neighborhood groups can apply for funding by attending a mandatory workshop and meeting key requirements. Learn more about how to protect and strengthen your community by attending one the workshops! See more and apply for the grant here.
Social and Community Engagement:
 National Day of Prayer. Join us for the National Day of Prayer at Overton Park Shell on May 1, 2025, from 6pm–7pm. This community gathering offers a time for reflection, unity, and prayer. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy food trucks on-site. See more and share here.
 Earth Day Festival. Join us at Shelby Farms Park on Saturday, April 19, for an Earth Day celebration packed with fun and eco-friendly activities! Stop by our table to win prizes, pick up helpful waste and recycling info, and learn how you can help keep Memphis clean and green. Enjoy a Family Fun Run, Kids Zone, food trucks, live music, and more. See more and share here.
UT Health Science Center. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center recently earned the R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation reflects the commitment the institution has on advancing knowledge and innovation through research. Learn more and support their mission here.
 Solid Waste Holiday Schedule. Plan ahead for Good Friday 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.
Stay Connected:
Behind every siren and every emergency response is a calm, steady voice guiding the way.
This #NationalPublicSafetyTelecommunicatorsWeek, we honor our Fire Dispatchers—true heroes who work 24/7 to answer the call and coordinate life-saving responses across Memphis. Your voice is the first line of help, and your dedication keeps our city safe.
Thank you for your service. 💛🔥
#MemphisFire #NPSTW #ThankYouDispatchers #CityOfMemphis #PublicSafety
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