MEMPHIS, Tenn — Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it's bringing its “Violent Crime Initiative” to Memphis.
According to the DOJ, violent crime in Memphis in 2023 is the worst it’s been in 17 years, a year that also saw the city set a new all-time high in homicides.
“Law enforcement is doubling-down on protecting the people of Memphis from violent crime,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, one of several law enforcement agencies represented in the press conference.
The VCI will bring in federal prosecutors, investigative agents, analysts, and forensic experts from the FBI, ATF and U.S. Marshals Service to help Memphis Police identify and target the worst offenders in the most crime-heavy areas in the city.
The members of the initiative said they also plan to work with community groups to promote rehabilitation and reentry.
The DOJ said the same initiative is paying dividends after launching in Houston, Texas in 2022.
“In its first year, the Houston VCI made great strides,” said Nicole Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General with the DOJ’s Criminal Division. “To date, we have prosecuted over 50 members of violent gangs.”
Memphis will become the second city in the United States to establish its own VCI.
“It’s obviously completely different (here)," says Argentieri. "There’s different gangs that are here, they’re located in different neighborhoods. In some ways, they’re a little more spread out.”
Memphians who spoke with ABC24 say that while they are open to the federal help, violent crime won’t go away until the root causes are addressed.
“I think there’s a lot of different things that go into violent crime such as poverty and education,” said Rebecca Shearer.
“Go after the people that’s flooding the city with the guns,” added Reco Ronandez.
Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis didn't attend Tuesday’s press conference. Instead it was Assistant Chief Shawn Jones. He said that if all agencies involved work together, this federal initiative can be successful.