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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Early in the morning on Friday, October 10th, almost two weeks into the Memphis Safe Task Force operation, National Guard troops officially began patrolling the streets of Memphis.
Approximately 150 guardsmen and women were deployed to the West Tennessee city as part of a joint federal and state effort to curb high crime rates and restore safety to the community.
ABC24 recently reported that state lawmaker Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis-District 98) confirmed that the troops will be working in three eight-hour shifts with only around 50 Guard members on duty at any given time.
There continues to be mixed feelings from Memphis residents and other Tennesseans across the state about the Memphis Safe Task Force and the presence of the National Guard.
Some believe the operation is an overreaction to declining crime rates and others hope to see the initiative successfully accomplish its goal to make Memphis a safer place to live.
One local, a resident of Harbor Town, actually spoke to ABC24 about his experience being pulled over by the task force.
“It’s a good thing,” said Chris Brock. “I was speeding. I was guilty, so I’m glad they’re here doing these things to make Memphis a safer place for the community.”
Another local, Keith Fields, questions whether the National Guard presence starting out in Harbor Town was the best use of resources.
“We’re down here by the river next to Harbor Town, ain’t no crime going on over here,” said Fields. “South Memphis, North Memphis, Orange Mound; that’s where they need to be.”
According to the City of Memphis, the National Guard is “serving as extra ‘eyes and ears’ in our neighborhoods, assisting local, state, and federal agencies.”
The Guard is meant to play a supporting role and act as a “force multiplier” for the Memphis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.
“Guardsmen and women will be easily identifiable in their standard uniforms that they wear every day,” the city wrote on the Safe and Clean Memphis webpage.
Guardsmen and women will not be making arrests or issuing warrants.
No armored tanks will be used for the Memphis Safe Task Force operation.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has been called a “sustained campaign” as it will occur in phases over the coming weeks and months.
The National Guard is expected to remain in Memphis for 60 to 90 days.
“If the federal agencies in the Memphis Safe Task Force can clean up Memphis the way they’ve done in Washington, D.C.,” State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) said, “then we can expect to live in a much safer and cleaner city very soon! To #MakeMemphisMatter, we must Make Memphis Safe.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Just as I suspected. The National Guard troops AREN’T going into high crime neighborhoods. They AREN’T intervening in gang violence. They pulled over Chris Brock for speeding? He probably asked them to pose for photos with him, judging from his response. What a joke.