MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Downtown crime is putting people on high alert.
New information obtained by WREG from Memphis Police show the number of major crimes in the 38103 zip code is on track to more than surpass last month’s numbers.
Mayor Jim Strickland refused to comment on downtown crime Tuesday, and his office told WREG, “I don’t think we’re going to get into that today.”
But plenty of others, including those who live downtown had plenty to say about their concerns about safety.
“Can’t even take them to the playground anymore,” Jeremy Knox, a father of two, said, shaking his head. Knox said he cannot even take his kids out downtown anymore without being worried for their safety. “We’ve just got to stay in the house.”
Recent shootings have downtown residents on edge.
Last week, a man was shot at the Edison Apartments.
Sunday, a group of people were shot at outside the Press Box Apartments on Madison.
Memphis Police have called 38103 the safest zip code in the city, but recent numbers from MPD’s CyberWatch show there have been more than 70 major crimes downtown just since January 1.
There were just over 100 major crimes the entire month of December.
Councilwoman Janis fullilove wants police to crack down even harder and hopes whoever is chosen as the new director won’t shy away what she calls, “aggressive policing.”
“It’s time out for officer friendly, because it looks like we’re in a war right now, and in a war, you have to have rules of engagement, and I think that’s what the police are going to have to come up with,” Fullilove said.
The downtown commission said it is working closely with MPD to monitor crime and is using more than 50 surveillance cameras posted around downtown to discourage criminal activity and record it when it happens.