Memphis Tennessee is now the Murder Capital of the United States. Chicago and St. Louis may be known for its high murder rate, but Memphis has now surpassed the windy city in homicide rates thus far this year.
The murder rate in Memphis, Tennessee is about 64 percent higher than that of Chicago this year, according to statistics.
The city has experienced this a violence the first three months with 60 people killed in 2016 at the end of March — compared to 35 homicides this time last year which put put the homicide rate around 9.13 victims per 100,000 population.
If the murder rate in Memphis stays steady, the city is on track to reach 240 homicides in 2016, shattering the highest murders recorded in one year — 213 homicides set in 1993. Last year, the city recorded 161 homicides.
Memphis began 2016 with 12 homicides in two weeks. One deadly day in March saw three men killed in a 5-hour span in separate shootings.
Although the homicide rate in Memphis is higher than ever the Memphis Police Department is solving these crimes at a pretty high rate too with approximately 75% of the homicides committed this year solved.
But many are searching for solutions to stop these violent crimes from happening in the first place. City councilman Phillip Spinosa hopes to put 70 new ‘Sky Cop’ cameras in neighborhoods across the city.
“I don’t think cameras are going to solve all the problems, but I think they are going to help create safer neighborhoods, and help efficiently and effectively deploy officers on the streets,” he said. I could not agree more. Cameras are not the solution.
City councilman Martavius Jones hopes to bring more jobs to the city that, like Chicago, has one of the highest black poverty rate in the country.
“You’re not able to find employment. You’re not able to have value for yourself. You’re not going to value someone else’s life,” he said.
When looking for accountability, one has to take a hard look in the mirror instead of constantly deflecting responsibility. Councilman Jones needs to stand up and take responsibility and accountability. It is the government that needs to take control of our streets, establish agenda, protocols, a justice system that works. Not a crooked and corrupt system that looks the other way and only comments in times of trouble. We need an actionable and accountable who ‘protects and serves’.
I am bringing my training to the great State of Tennessee by request. I hope that the Governor of Tennessee and the Mayor of Memphis do their part in speed. We have enough murder to deal with abroad.
About the author: Scott Bernstein is the CEO of Global Security International LLC headquartered in NYC. He has extensive experience as an Counter terrorist Consultant, International Apprehension Operative, Human & Sex Trafficking Expert and a Military and Law Enforcement Trainer. He is available for speaking engagements globally. He has been recognized as a leading authority by the international media by his peers and colleagues. In addition to his LinkedIn profile, you can also interact with Scott on his LinkedIn group http://bit.ly/1LMp2hj.