MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The current surge of federal resources into Memphis will likely last the next 30 days, but the impact and partnerships will last much longer, Mayor Paul Young said Thursday.
Young said there are currently about 700 federal agents and 150 National Guard members in the city as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force. He said there likely would be some reduction in the federal presence after the initial 30 days.
The task force has been in Memphis for more than two weeks. The National Guard arrived last Friday.
Gov. Bill Lee made news recently when he said their presence would last indefinitely; Young said he thought the governor was talking about long-term partnerships, not the full surge.
Young said the task force had identified at least 30 homicide suspects, and the Department of Justice reports that there have been 392 arrests on outstanding warrants. Young said there were over 10,000 felony warrants out at any given time.
“We want to continue to grow that number. We know that we have roughly 10,000 felony warrants. Thirty of which are individuals that have committed homicides in our city,” said Mayor Young.
“Memphis has the opportunity to come out of this with a narrative that is stronger,” Young said.
Task force crime numbers
As of Thursday, the task force had made 978 total arrests and seized 197 firearms.
- 2 Parole/Probation
- 8 Homicide
- 43 Sex Offenses
- 101 Narcotics
- 104 Firearms
- 147 Other
- 181 ICE Administrative arrests
- 392 Warrants
When it comes to arrests, though, Young says the feds need to stay focused on going after those responsible for violent crimes because they’re running out of room in the Shelby County Jail.
“I think that they have capacity for 2,800 or so. They’re around 2,900. So, they have reached their capacity,” said Young.
Young said those being arrested are still being taken to 201 Poplar. They’re looking at moving less violent offenders to other locations.
The mayor said the National Guard has been doing foot patrols primarily in the downtown area.