Memphis police report big year‑to‑date drops in crime and outline recruiting gains

At the Public Safety and Homeland Security committee meeting on April 28, Memphis Police Department leadership reported substantial year‑to‑date reductions in reported Part I crimes and traffic crashes and outlined staffing and technology plans.

Chief Davis and command staff said the city’s precincts have recorded double‑digit declines in multiple categories, citing reductions in murders and motor vehicle thefts and an overall year‑to‑date drop of more than 5,000 reported crimes compared with the same period last year. They reported that traffic crashes were down roughly 11.7% year‑to‑date and noted fewer fatalities across motorist and pedestrian categories.

MPD also described Sentinel camera procurement activity and a benchmarking process for placing cameras in high‑priority locations; procurement for Sentinel packages has moved into the vendor‑selection phase. Recruiting and training remains a priority: the department expects an academy graduation of about 85 recruits in June, followed by classes that could produce additional new officers later in 2026, with leadership aiming for a net increase in sworn personnel next year.

Councilmembers questioned policies on access to body‑worn‑camera and in‑car footage and asked for clearer public guidance. Police said release and review of body camera video generally follow policy and legal review and that release often awaits completion of criminal or administrative reviews and vetting by the city attorney’s office.

Members also pressed police officials about enforcement options for nuisance businesses and asked for a policy and process briefing that the department said it will provide. Council and police discussed the impact of pending state legislation on local enforcement and noted statewide conversations among chiefs about bills that might loosen gun rules; police leadership said the department was part of a coalition engaging legislators about public‑safety concerns.