In brief
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has announced a multi-agency law enforcement initiative to address crime in Memphis. Starting next week, 13 federal agencies, including the National Guard, will work alongside city police and state troopers. The National Guard will not be armed unless requested by local authorities. Lee expressed optimism that this initiative will significantly reduce crime in Memphis, declaring it a generational opportunity to transform the city's safety narrative.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Friday that Memphis will see an increase in federal law enforcement presence aimed at curtailing crime starting next week.
At a news conference in Memphis, the governor, flanked by city officials and law enforcement agencies, outlined the operation involving 13 federal agencies, including the National Guard, city police, and state troopers. The troops will be deployed in phases, although the precise timeline for the National Guard's arrival has yet to be confirmed.
Importantly, the National Guard will serve a support role and will not be making arrests or carrying weapons unless requested by local police. Previously, Lee indicated that no more than 150 Guard members would be deployed, but numbers were yet to be finalized.
“The story of crime in Memphis is about to be a story of the past,” Lee asserted during the conference.
FBI and other federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, will be part of this initiative, aimed at providing a significant law enforcement boost in response to ongoing crime challenges. Lee confirmed he would not declare a state of emergency in conjunction with this deployment.
“Memphis is a world-class city, and before us lies a generational chance to make it a safe place,” Lee emphasized.
A city statement further clarified that Guardsmen would be identified in their everyday uniforms without masks, and it reassured the public that armored tanks would not be utilized in this mission.
President Donald Trump initially announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis on September 12, followed by the formation of a law enforcement task force on September 15.
