NASHVILLE, TN - On Friday, September 26, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said that an influx of additional federal law enforcement agents would be heading to Memphis next week to focus on fighting crime.
At a news conference, the Republican governor stood alongside city and state officials and confirmed that 13 federal agencies, in collaboration with city police and state troopers, would be involved. He said that they would all be arriving in Memphis in phases starting next week, according to WAPT.
Those heading to Memphis include the National Guard, though Lee did not say specifically when troops would arrive. He said the National Guard members will not be making arrests and will not be armed, unless local law enforcement officials request it.
Lee previously said he doesn't think there would be more than 150 Guard members, but he also said that the total number is still in the planning stages.
"The story of crime in Memphis is about to be a story of the past," Lee said.
The governor said agents from the FBI, ATF, and DEA would arrive next week. He said he will not declare a state of emergency. "Memphis is a world-class city. Before us, we have a generational opportunity to make Memphis a safe city," Lee said.
On the city's website, it states: "Guardsmen and women will be easily identifiable in their standard uniforms that they wear every day. The guardsmen and women will not be wearing masks. Armored tanks will not be a resource used in this mission."
On September 12, President Donald Trump announced that he would next send the National Guard to Memphis. He signed an order setting up a task force of law enforcement agencies regarding the mission on September 15. While Lee has embraced federal intervention, Memphis Mayor Paul Young has taken a pragmatic approach.
The governor said he never asked for National Guard troops, but recognized they would come regardless of his opinion. "My goal is to make sure that as resources come into our community, we find ways to use them effectively and for the benefit of the residents of our great city," he said.
While discussing the deployment, both Republican and Democratic officials have noted recent decreases in some Memphis crime metrics, the Associated Press reported. Young noted that crime rates in Memphis have been falling, but "we have a lot of work to do to get crime at a level where people really, really feel it."
Both Young and Lee emphasized that the surge of resources is not intended to be a quick fix but rather a sustained effort. "It will operate as long as it takes," Lee said.
At a news conference, the Republican governor stood alongside city and state officials and confirmed that 13 federal agencies, in collaboration with city police and state troopers, would be involved. He said that they would all be arriving in Memphis in phases starting next week, according to WAPT.
Those heading to Memphis include the National Guard, though Lee did not say specifically when troops would arrive. He said the National Guard members will not be making arrests and will not be armed, unless local law enforcement officials request it.
Lee previously said he doesn't think there would be more than 150 Guard members, but he also said that the total number is still in the planning stages.
"The story of crime in Memphis is about to be a story of the past," Lee said.
The governor said agents from the FBI, ATF, and DEA would arrive next week. He said he will not declare a state of emergency. "Memphis is a world-class city. Before us, we have a generational opportunity to make Memphis a safe city," Lee said.
On the city's website, it states: "Guardsmen and women will be easily identifiable in their standard uniforms that they wear every day. The guardsmen and women will not be wearing masks. Armored tanks will not be a resource used in this mission."
On September 12, President Donald Trump announced that he would next send the National Guard to Memphis. He signed an order setting up a task force of law enforcement agencies regarding the mission on September 15. While Lee has embraced federal intervention, Memphis Mayor Paul Young has taken a pragmatic approach.
The governor said he never asked for National Guard troops, but recognized they would come regardless of his opinion. "My goal is to make sure that as resources come into our community, we find ways to use them effectively and for the benefit of the residents of our great city," he said.
While discussing the deployment, both Republican and Democratic officials have noted recent decreases in some Memphis crime metrics, the Associated Press reported. Young noted that crime rates in Memphis have been falling, but "we have a lot of work to do to get crime at a level where people really, really feel it."
Both Young and Lee emphasized that the surge of resources is not intended to be a quick fix but rather a sustained effort. "It will operate as long as it takes," Lee said.
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