UPDATE: Statement from Mayor Paul Young
MPD has always collaborated with federal agencies on addressing violent crime, and we’re encouraged by any effort that brings more resources to Memphis. We look forward to learning more from our federal law enforcement partners.
Locally, we’re already seeing results. Through our recent Fugitive Task Force and other strategic operations, we’ve taken fugitives off the streets and disrupted gang activity across the city. With stronger collaboration and steady local leadership, we’ll keep pushing forward to make every Memphis neighborhood safer.
{snip}
“I didn’t know this until my confirmation process, but Memphis, Tennessee, is the homicide capital of America per capita – didn’t know that, we have a problem there,” Kash Patel told Fox News. “We’re now addressing it. We’re rolling out one of our task forces to Tennessee.”
Senator Brent Taylor responded to Patel’s claims on social media and said that he’s happy to see Patel and the FBI take Memphis’ crime surge seriously.
{snip}
Taylor said he’s sometimes felt like the only one trying to raise awareness of the crime epidemic by calling out judges and the Shelby County DA for being soft on crime. He said it is time for the FBI to step in and help.
“Finally, maybe the grown-ups will show up here and start making arrests and prosecutions at the federal level that we don’t seem to be doing at the state level. So, at this point, we don’t know how they’ll be involved,” Taylor said.
{snip}
Taylor said the city is sliding into chaos, and it’s beyond local officials’ ability to stop that slide.
“Last week, I had a meeting with the governor’s office and talking about some initiatives that I think will help add ranks to the Memphis Police Department, and also in terms of perhaps a Crown consultant for, the state of Tennessee that would, make recommendations back to the state about what policies, laws that need to be changed and make those recommendations to us,” stated Taylor.
Sen. Taylor said it’s possible the FBI will reopen a field office in Memphis that moved to Nashville last year.
* Original Article:
https://wreg.com/news/fbi-director-calls-memphis-homicide-capital-of-the-usa/amp/