Mayor Reed Responds to National Guard Proposal for Montgomery

Mayor Steven L. Reed issued the following statement regarding Governor-elect Tommy Tuberville's comments about deploying National Guard troops in Montgomery:

"Keeping Montgomery safe is my top priority. Our officers are doing difficult, important work, and any assessment of our city should account for the progress MPD is already making.

"If Governor-elect Tuberville is proposing National Guard troops, residents deserve to know what current crime figures he is using, which crimes he expects a deployment to reduce, how much further he expects those numbers to decline and by when. He should also explain how he would distinguish the results of MPD's ongoing work from any additional benefit of a deployment.

"We welcome effective partnerships with the state. Any proposal should include a clear mission, coordination with local law enforcement, measurable goals and transparent reporting."

What the Research Shows

Available research offers a mixed picture of National Guard deployments as a crime reduction strategy. Some analyses find reductions in certain property crimes, but the evidence does not establish a consistent reduction in homicides or other serious violence attributable specifically to Guard personnel.

Memphis: Reported improvements reflect a combined operation. The U.S. Marshals Service reported substantial crime reductions during the Memphis Safe Task Force's first year. That operation includes federal, state and local law enforcement alongside National Guard personnel. Its reported results do not isolate the Guard's contribution.

Read the U.S. Marshals Service report

Existing crime trends matter. The Council on Criminal Justice documents declining crime in Memphis before the deployment. Evaluating any additional intervention requires accounting for that existing progress and broader crime trends.

Read the Council on Criminal Justice analysis

Washington, D.C.: Research found different outcomes for different crimes. A University of Maryland-led analysis published through the Niskanen Center estimated a roughly 24% reduction in opportunistic property offenses, but found no measurable impact on violent crime. Troops were concentrated in tourist corridors, transit hubs and other public spaces, limiting how directly those findings apply to other deployment strategies.

Read the University of Maryland overview

Read the full Niskanen Center analysis

A separate working paper by economist Robert Gonzalez found no detectable reduction in homicides in D.C. and raised questions about cost-effectiveness. Some initial crime reduction findings weakened after accounting for differing trends before deployment. These findings are preliminary research rather than a settled scientific consensus.

Read the working paper

Clear Goals and Public Accountability

For any proposed deployment in Montgomery, residents deserve to know:

• The current crime figures and comparison periods being used as the baseline.
• The specific crimes the deployment would address.
• The additional reductions expected and the timeframe for achieving them.
• How results would be distinguished from MPD's ongoing work and existing crime trends.
• The mission, costs, coordination arrangements and criteria for ending the deployment.

The City's focus remains on effective partnerships that support local law enforcement and deliver measurable, lasting improvements in public safety.