MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis looks to maintain its momentum in the fight against crime as the mayor and other local leaders tout new public safety milestones.
“Our original goal was 10 percent year over year with a 40-year reduction. I’m happy to say that today we’ve already received a 40 percent reduction from where we were in 2023,” said Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
Mayor says Memphis overall crime rate drops 41% in two years
According to the Memphis Police Department, compared to 2023 violent crimes have declined by 30 percent in the city. Data shows murder is down 47 percent, robbery is down 31 percent, and rape is down 26 percent.
“Sustain the gain. We’ve had significant gains in 2025 and we hope to sustain that by putting together a strategy that continues to keep crime moving down whether we have our task force or not,” explained Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis.In 2025, the Memphis Safe Task Force made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement, and the Tennessee National Guard arrested nearly 4,700 violent fugitives in 2025. State representative Kevin Vaughan says the task force was the catalyst the city needed.
Memphis Safe Task Force claims nearly 4,700 arrests, 132 children found in 2025
“The same old, same old was not working and momentum was going in the wrong direction. We need the bodies doing the work. And we need to encourage a climate of people who are here to do what they’re supposed to do,” said Rep. Vaughan. “Where our police are enforcing things, our judges and prosecutors are prosecuting the cases and getting people in the court room.”…