Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he does not think the National Guard’s presence in Memphis will drive down crime. However, he said he is committed to utilizing the resources to “strengthen the community.”
“I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime,” Young said at a press conference today at City Hall. “However, that decision has been made, and as mayor of the city that I love, my commitment is to make sure we work strategically to ensure that this happens in a way that truly benefits and strengthens our community.”
Young also responded to Trump’s comments to Fox News that he was “happy” about the decision, which he said was an “overstatement.”
“I am focused on the resources,” Young said . “FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), those are the things that I believe will truly help us be able to support law enforcement and reduce violent crime.”
He said the Guard’s deployment is a part of a decision made by Governor Bill Lee and Donald Trump to send “federal resources” to the city in hopes of reducing crime.
Lee’s and Trump’s decision contradicts that of Young as he said he does not support the National Guard, and that it wasn’t his call to bring them.
The mayor said they are not sure about how long the guard will be deployed, how many individuals will come, and how long they will be stationed in Memphis. However, Young did say that their presence would be “short-term.”
“This is not happening tomorrow,” Young said.
The city is also unsure as to how and where the military force will be dispersed.
Young noted that the city has made strides in reducing crime by identifying the “most violent” groups and individuals. While he noted that there has been double-digit percentage reduction in crime, he said there is still work to be done.
The mayor said the deployment is not a political stunt, and he and his team are committed to staying “laser-focused” on bringing down crime.
While the city is looking to benefit from the resources that a federal presence could bring, the decision has garnered both praise and condemnation from city and state leaders.
United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) voiced her support prior to the confirmation of the decision, saying she hoped they would “combat violent crime and restore law and order.”
Other elected officials, such as District Attorney Steve Mulroy, disagreed that the Guard deployment is the answer to Memphis’ crime concerns.
“We welcome federal efforts to make Shelby County safer, but far better would be more FBI, DEA, ATF, and other federal law enforcement agents — people with actual training in civilian law enforcement, unlike military troops,” Mulroy said.
