MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The mayor of Memphis said he is looking at the success of a specific crime-reduction strategy originating elsewhere in the country and might be modeling his approach to Memphis' crime issues by using it.
Mayor Young has been in office for less than two months. However, he's used this short time to look at how Omaha, Nebraska and other cities are tackling crime. He now plans to use the Omaha 360 initiative to build a framework that brings different sectors of the community under one accessible umbrella.
According to the City of Omaha, dozens of cities participated in a forum to learn about the program and how similar models could have positive results in their cities, including Kansas City, Missouri, which has already started "KC360."
"We believe in creating a holistic approach to public safety," Young said. "Omaha 360 provides a strong framework for organizing the partners and programs involved in a collective response. We are looking to work towards a similar model in Memphis."
Omaha sees significantly less homicides compared to Memphis and even fewer after more than 16 years of the network operating.
According to the Omaha ABC station, the city saw 42 homicides in 2007. Roughly ten years later and Omaha 360 in full swing, the number of homicides were down 50 percent.
“If this can happen over the last seven to eight years – imagine what’s possible the next 10 years if we collaborate, align ourselves and are even more proactive about strategic reinvestment,” Empower Omaha President Willie Barney said in its promo video.
“Our hope is that this Omaha 360 framework model – regardless of what we call it – is going to uncover other programs that are operating in neighborhoods and communities and hopefully blossom new ones,” Young said.
Toward the end of November 2023, it was reported that there had been 352 homicides and over 14,000 stolen cars this year alone in just Memphis. MPD said repeat offenders and those younger than 18 are key players in the city's crime epidemic.
“The violent crime that we’re seeing is unacceptable,” Young said. “We want to increase the level of engagement of our young people. We want our young people to find opportunities to engage in their neighborhoods, in their zip codes.”
MPD also said 20% of all those charged were charged with other crimes previously.
Federal, state and local leaders all met for a closed public safety summit in September to discuss possible solutions to crime. Much of that discussion was centered around dealing with violent repeat offenders.
"We all have recognized that we have a serious crime problem," Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said following the summit. "We have a crime crisis right now and it requires an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackle the problem.”
Mulroy said city, county and state leaders discussed the court system as well as data-sharing between departments and how to tackle some of the environmental challenges that lead to crime “hot spots.”
"Not every one of these things will be able to be done overnight," Mulroy said. "We hope we’ll be able to implement some of these things in a 6-to-18-month timeframe."
As crime proves to be a continued challenge for the city of Memphis, how to reduce the pain that it has caused communities remains on the minds of other civilians, politicians and changemakers in the area.
Click here for a collection of organized facts and data surrounding crime in the Mid-South as well as a list of organizations that could use your help in reducing crime in the city of Memphis.
For example, those looking to get involved with and/or donate to the various groups working to reduce crime in the Memphis area can do so with links like these: