Congressman Cohen Announces $1,788,696 for the University of Memphis

With this funding, the University of Memphis will support the Operation Safe Community project, a crime abatement initiative developed by the top government and law enforcement leaders from across Shelby County in partnership with private sector and community leaders.

“I am very pleased that the Department of Justice has once again selected the University of Memphis to receive funding under the Byrne Discretionary Program,” said Congressman Cohen. “Gang violence continues to be a major problem in Memphis, and this funding will help our local law enforcement agencies combat these groups and promote positive youth development in our community.”

With this new funding, the Operation Safe Community project aims to:

• Expand access to crime mapping and crime analyses within the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office;
• Expand investigative surveillance and tracking capacity at the Memphis Police Department (MPD) to target serious repeat offenders and organized crime, especially gangs and other organizations; and
• Provide advanced training for MPD investigators on surveillance and tracking equipment and advanced crime analysis and mapping.

The University of Memphis will acquire additional proprietary databases to enhance crime analysis and expand partnerships with community analysts leading to crime reduction. Additionally, grant funds will be used to expand the use of video surveillance for crime reduction in high crime areas; enhance information technology available to the Shelby County Drug Court staff; expand the number of non-violent drug offenders admitted to the Shelby County Drug Court Treatment program; and develop a county-wide comprehensive gang reduction strategy. Finally, the University of Memphis will launch a complementary MPD Crime Awareness communications campaign to raise citizen awareness about the efforts they can undertake to reduce crime.

“This Congress has made the eradication of violent crime in our cities a major priority,” said Congressman Cohen. “I will continue to fight for more funding for the 9th District to end gang violence and organized crime in our community. These Byrne grants will give our local law enforcement officials the tools they need and the funding they deserve to effectively take on the worst criminals in the 9th District. I also support the continued development and implementation of drug courts for non-violent offenders to prevent the overcrowding of our prison system and to focus on rehabilitation in lieu of a strictly punitive approach. This is a sensible approach that I have long supported. I thank the Department of Justice for recognizing the efforts of the University of Memphis and our local law enforcement agencies and rewarding them with this important grant.”

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265