Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, praised the Memphis Safe Task Force after federal officials announced the coalition of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies had surpassed 10,000 arrests since its deployment in September 2025.
Appearing on Thursday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Pappert described the achievement as evidence that the task force has significantly improved public safety in Memphis in less than a year.
“President Trump didn’t even sign the presidential memorandum until September 15. So in much less than one year, this coalition of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have descended on Memphis and made it safer,” Pappert said. “They have, as you said, announced their 10,000th arrest. Specifically, they say 10,017 arrests have been made as of yesterday.”
According to figures released by the U.S. Marshals Service, the arrests include suspects charged with homicide, sex offenses, firearms violations, and controlled substances offenses. The agency also reported the seizure of more than 1,700 illegal firearms.
Pappert noted that publicly available crime data from the City of Memphis show broader improvements beyond the task force’s arrest totals.
“We can see that in addition to the Memphis Safe Task Force, Memphis authorities bring the arrest total up to over 14,000, and we can also see that they’ve taken their case clearance rate from a dismal lower than 15 percent up to 25 percent,” Pappert said. “That’s cases being closed and solved just over the last two years. So it’s been an immense level of progress. The city is getting better.”
The task force’s operations have faced legal challenges from opponents, including litigation regarding the participation of the Tennessee National Guard and a federal lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union concerning enforcement of Tennessee’s Halo Law.
Despite those challenges, Pappert argued the initiative has produced measurable results.
“Immense progress. Congratulations. I commend everybody involved. President Trump, I’m so happy he did this, and even in the face of massive opposition, they’ve seen massive success,” he said.
When asked whether Memphis is safer today than before the task force’s deployment, Pappert responded unequivocally.
“Oh, it’s without a doubt,” he said.
Pappert referenced claims by Memphis Mayor Paul Young that crime rates have fallen to their lowest levels in decades, noting that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reviewed the city’s reporting.
“The TBI came back and said, yes, they are. Crime is, in fact, lower than it has been in 25 years,” Pappert said.
Addressing public sentiment, Pappert suggested that many Memphis residents support the task force’s presence.
“I think by and large it’s been positive,” he said. “The mayor of Memphis has been very accepting toward the Memphis Safe Task Force. He hasn’t tried to get them to leave, he hasn’t tried to create friction with the Trump administration. Instead, he said that we’re going to use this to its fullest potential.”
Pappert also cited anecdotal evidence of improved public confidence.
“I know there’s been viral social media videos, I’m thinking of one in particular from about a year ago now, or less than a year ago, shortly after the task force deployed, where a man said, ‘Man, I’m walking to the store. I haven’t felt safe enough to do this in years. Thank you, Trump,'” he said.
While acknowledging that some residents hoped for faster results, Pappert maintained that the scale of enforcement activity demonstrates progress.
“With 10,000 arrests made in less than a year, I think everybody has to admit this is progress,” he said.
The discussion also turned to the recently enacted Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act, which requires district attorneys to provide written explanations when reducing charges, offering plea agreements, or declining to prosecute cases connected to task force arrests.
Pappert said Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy has opposed the measure and filed a lawsuit challenging it.
“What it requires is any district attorney general … who has to prosecute a crime related to the Memphis Safe Task Force, if they decide to offer a plea deal, reduce those charges, decide just not to prosecute the case … this law now makes it so they have to provide a written explanation of their decision,” Pappert said.
Although Pappert acknowledged some of Mulroy’s concerns about administrative burdens, he defended the legislation.
“I don’t think that what’s being asked of him, to explain decisions to release people that may have been arrested for federal crimes or for crimes by federal police, I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all,” he said.
Pappert further argued that broader political changes are occurring in Memphis and Shelby County as crime declines and state intervention increases in local institutions.
“I think that the populace of Memphis was ready for the change,” he said. “Memphis really is, and Tennessee really is, the poster child for how to do things the right way.”
Looking ahead, Pappert suggested that long-established political figures in Memphis may be losing influence.
“If they haven’t already lost their power, I think they’ve lost their influence,” Pappert said. “It’s a good thing for the locals, it’s a good thing for the state of Tennessee, and it is a good achievement for every Republican and President Trump who has had a role in this.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Shelby County Sheriff On-Scene” by Shelby County Sheriff.
