By: C.Nicole Tamara Davis, 26 and boyfriend, Joe Fifer, 22, were robbed and shot while walking to their apartments. Davis was pregnant with her first child.
Jan. 12 Trezevant High School gathered together to remember Ryan Gilliam who was murdered during a robbery. He was 18-years old. These are just a couple cases out of two dozen that have occurred at the beginning of 2016. Memphis Police Department officer Oliver Lacy stated that, “There has already been 12 homicides, just 13 days into 2016. Crime in Memphis is at the top of the agenda for citizens in the Bluff City after the Memphis Police Department released figures for the first two months of the year showing an increase in crime of 22 percent with murder increasing by 47 percent. This comes as Memphis residents are asking their city leaders to address the crime issue. “I can’t walk to my car without wondering if someone is going to rape me,” said Rose Thurman, 52, of Memphis. “We always hear about a perpetrator preying on women and how they can attack you in dark places, and my biggest fear is having that happen to me.” The city has ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Jim Strickland, newly elected Memphis mayor, has made it his duty to reduce the crime in the city. Recently, with an interview with ACTIONNews5 Strickland said, “We have to be tough on crime, getting more police officers out on the street, fewer in the administration building, and not answering every auto accident.” Richard Janikowski, retired crime expert, in a recent analysis said “Memphis needs 2,400 officers to effectively police the city, right now only 2,282 officers are employed.” The only thing keeping the police department from collapsing is paying a large amounts of money on overtime for the positions not filled and ton of money on out-of rank pay, said Janikowski. Statistics show that a typical American child will view more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18 whether television or exposed to it, written by Eugene Beresin. 13 year-old LeTara Jones was shot and killed when her brother’s friend was playing with a gun and discharged while Jones was down stairs holding a infant. Soon after, her brother shot and killed the suspect. This type of case really have residents wondering whether Memphis is safe enough for their children. “I have concerns about the violence that takes place here. I moved here in 2010, and too know that we are the second most dangerous city is a wake up call, said Laurie Bridgefield, 30, accountant. I’m a single mom and when my children aren’t in my presence I’m always afraid that something will happen to them.” Within the city there has been multiple crime prevention tactics that are being put into action. Memphis pastors and Police Department are joining forces to implement a community outreach, which could help bridge a gap between the police and community and hope fully reduce crime. Arlen K. Parham, pastor of I’m APART M.B Church said “ We are trying to get kids involved and get more people in attendance at church, the problem is starting from our streets and shedding blood all over our city.” The community is putting into action neighborhood watches, organized watch groups, provide our youth with mentors and outreach within the communities. “We are hoping as a unit that we can change our city,” said Rev. Montgomery. Some residents do no think that our city or community isn't doing enough. "They (the city officials) say they have been "trying" to help our community for years, so how is it that everything is getting worse? Ill tell you why because they aren't helping it", said Laurean Gibson, citizen of Memphis. "Putting out a few flyers and setting up booths for a few hours are not going to help.Our community needs consistency." Here are the Crimes that were Committed just in January alone: https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=15rXSUabxUrCYT5awX8ScghYBq13oitfl-ssIsXjA#rows:id=1
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