MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A building at 250 Peabody Place is set to become home to a new 2,500-square-foot downtown command center with 24/7 staffing, similar to Memphis’ realtime crime center.
That new command center one block off Beale Street is set to open in April, as the weather warms up and crime tends to increase downtown.
More cameras also are set to be installed around the district.
Data shows crime down in the downtown area, and city-wide, city leaders said as they announced plans Friday to expand downtown safety strategies further.
In 2024, downtown crime in Memphis is down 26.4%, downtown motor vehicle thefts are down 48.3%, and downtown violent crimes are down 33.9% compared to last year, according to the city’s numbers.
City-wide, crime is down 13.8%, motor vehicle theft is down 37.4%, and violent crime is down 19.1% compared to last year’s data, officials said.
Crime across the city of Memphis is down by double digits, its lowest level since before 2019, according to data shown by city officials during a meeting Friday afternoon.
The following key metrics show crime profiles from October 2024 near the FedExForum in Memphis compared to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
FedExForum:
- Total incidents: 306
- Incidents within a half-mile radius: 121
- Shootings: 5
- Assaults: 103
- Robberies: 10
- Thefts: 90
- Arrests: 31
Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena:
- Total incidents: 979
- Incidents within a half-mile radius: 419
- Shootings: 12
- Assaults: 249
- Robberies: 48
- Thefts: 340
- Arrests: 54
From November 2023 to October 2024, there were 4,728 incidents near the FedExForum compared to 7,071 incidents near the Bridgestone arena.
The city says it plans on using crime tracking and prevention strategies to keep Memphis “safer, stronger, and more inviting.”
Six examples include prioritized safety, safer streets, improved infrastructure, better city utilities, healthier environments, and improved transportation. These are all examples of “Smart city characteristics.”
