Senator Blackburn Welcomes AG Blanche to Memphis to Host Roundtable on Success of Memphis Safe Task Force

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Attorney General Todd Blanche, and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gady Serralta hosted a roundtable discussion on the remarkable success of the Memphis Safe Task Force following its one-year anniversary.

Since the Task Force was launched, there have been more than 13,500 arrests, including more than 1,500 known gang members. Law enforcement has seized more than 1,300 illegal firearms, located nearly 200 missing children, and executed nearly 7,000 warrants.

Senator Blackburn was joined in this discussion by U.S. Attorney Mike Dunavant, U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, U.S. Representative David Kustoff, and State Senator Brent Taylor.

EXCERPT OF REMARKS

"Good morning, everyone."

"Thank you all for being here for this discussion."

"I want to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to Attorney General Blanche for accepting my invitation to come to Memphis today."

"He has been a true partner in our efforts to make Memphis safer, and I greatly appreciate his working with me every step of the way."

"We are here this morning because we recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Memphis Safe Task Force."

"And what a year it has been for this city."

"Today, we will discuss what has already been accomplished and where we go from here to ensure sustained, long-term public safety in Shelby County."

"Since the launch of the Memphis Safe Task Force last year, we have witnessed a true success story in this historic, iconic city."

"Crime has declined across all measured categories when comparing 2026 with the same period in 2025."

"Overall violent crime has dropped by more than 38%."

"Homicides are down 37%."

"Carjackings are down 63%."

"Sexual assaults are down 30%."

"Robberies have decreased by 47%."

"By coordinating resources among more than two dozen local, state, and federal agencies-including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee National Guard, and Memphis Police Department-the Task Force has been remarkably successful in getting criminals off the streets."

"Since the Task Force was launched, there have been more than 13,500 arrests, including more than 1,500 known gang members."

"Law enforcement has seized more than 1,300 illegal firearms, located nearly 200 missing children, and executed nearly 7,000 warrants."

"I have said it many times, but Memphis truly has become a model for fighting violent crime in a large city."

"We also have a stellar law enforcement team in place, working hard every day to make this city safer."

"Many of its members are here this morning, including U.S. Attorney Mike Dunavant, U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, Memphis Police Chief Davis, and representatives from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, FBI, DEA, ATF, TBI, and many other agencies."

"This Task Force has been a resounding success, and the Memphis community is feeling the difference."

"Sixty-two percent of Memphians say our efforts have been effective in reducing crime."

"I have made public safety in Memphis a priority in the U.S. Senate."

"More than two years ago, before President Trump was even reelected, I introduced a resolution urging him to surge federal law enforcement resources into Memphis to crack down on violent crime."

"After President Trump nominated Kash Patel to lead the FBI, Patel came to meet with me in my office."

"During that meeting, he was stunned to learn that Memphis at the time had some of the highest-if not the highest-violent crime rates in our country."

"Over the following months, I worked with Director Patel as he launched what became known as Operation Viper, a targeted effort last summer that took the most dangerous gang members off our streets."

"This effort ultimately served as the precursor to what became the Memphis Safe Task Force."

"Given all the work that has been done for this great city, I am incredibly hopeful about the future of Memphis and West Tennessee."

"This is America's logistics hub, home to all of the Class I railroads, FedEx, the Port of Memphis, and world-class trucking companies."

"It is also home to International Paper, xAI, St. Jude, and many other outstanding companies and organizations."

"There is tremendous positive momentum in Shelby County right now, and everyone involved has played a significant role in that success."

"I am incredibly grateful for President Trump's commitment to Memphis and for Attorney General Blanche's partnership over the past year in helping make Memphis safe again."

"The Attorney General has truly been an invaluable partner in our efforts to fight crime."

"Once again, I could not be more grateful that he has taken the time to come to Memphis today."

"We will not stop our efforts until Memphis is the safest city in the United States."

RELATED

• One Year In, the Memphis Safe Task Force Has Delivered

• Blackburn Joins President Trump in Memphis to Tout Success of Memphis Safe Task Force

https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/10/senator-blackburn-welcomes-ag-blanche-to-memphis-to-host-roundtable-on-success-of-memphis-safe-task-force