U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton Talks Community Safety
November 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Bank robberies, carjacking, and business robberies have significantly declined in recent years throughout Memphis and Shelby County, thanks to collaborative efforts like Project Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Streets Task Force. During a recent interview on Live at 9 on WREG Channel 3, U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton, III shared details on the programs and the importance of staying informed.
"The successful reduction of violent crime in Shelby County can be directly attributed to initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Streets Task Force," Attorney Stanton said.
The proof is in the numbers, as Project Safe Neighborhoods has led to the identification of more than 5,000 felons, more than 1,000 Federal indictments, and nearly 700 state court guilty pleas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office website. To make these numbers reality, several partners played a role: the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Tennessee Department of Probation and Parole; H.O.P.E. Works; and the University of Memphis Center for Community Criminology and Research.
Also here to serve and protect is Safe Streets Task Force, consisting of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the Germantown Police Department, and the Bartlett Police Department. Since the program's inception in 2006, carjacking and business robberies dropped nearly 70 percent in the first four years, and bank robberies saw more than a 60 percent decrease.
U.S. Attorney Stanton says information is key to ongoing success. "I believe it is important to inform the citizens of Shelby County about the many crime-reduction initiatives our office participates in with local, state, and federal partners," he said.
With this information, offered by Operation: Safe Community, citizens can make better decisions about safety in their communities.