We’ll probably never really know how well or even what the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) is doing in Memphis. The group routinely denies requests for information from the press and city leaders.
But here are some numbers straight from President Donald Trump and members of his administration, speaking here Monday during the MSTF roundtable.
These numbers include nearly 7,000 total arrests, which includes 770 gang members and 619 undocumented people.
President Trump
• “…that includes a 60 percent drop in robberies, a 74 percent drop in carjacking and motor vehicle thefts.”
• “We’ve achieved a 77 percent reduction in murders from the peak in this place.”
• “In total, we’ve arrested 7,000 criminals.”
• “…seized more than 1,100 illegal guns, taken more than 1,000 pounds of illicit narcotics and rescued more than 150 missing children.”
• “In the year before I took office, Memphis saw more than 12,500 violent assaults, 429 rapes, and 7,600 burglaries and armed robbery.”
Gadyaces S. Serralta, Director, U.S. Marshals Service
• “In just over six months, the Memphis Safe Task Force has made over 7,342 arrests.”
• “Seized over 1,200 illegal firearms, and located and returned 150 missing children.”
• “43 percent reduction in total serious crimes”
• “37 percent reduction in murder”
• “40 percent reduction in sexual assault”
• “56 percent reduction in robbery”
• “68 percent reduction in motor vehicle thefts”
• “65 percent increase in the solvability of crimes”
Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General
• “Over 770 gang members off the streets.”
Todd Lyons, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• “We did have 619 illegal aliens arrested.”
Terry Cole Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
• “(Seized) close to 190 kilograms of cocaine, close to 50 pounds of methamphetamine.”
• “(Seized) enough fentanyl to kill… close to 20 million Americans.”
• “(Seized) another 25 million lethal doses of fentanyl… just outside of Memphis.”