The Memphis Police Department (MPD) said Friday that hundreds more National Guard troops will be filtering into the city to serve as additional eyes and support for law enforcement as the Memphis Safe Task Force continues to make arrests, rescue missing children, and dismantle drug and gang networks despite a District Attorney who seems determined to decrease or dismiss charges from the arrests.
According to MPD public affairs manager Faith King, the department anticipates the total Guard presence will increase to roughly 350, about double the current 140-180 members already in the city.
A different estimate has the number closer to 500 troops in total, and another undisclosed source claims the Governor’s Office has been discussing up to 900 National Guard members being sent to each of MPD’s nine precincts. The Governor has not made any public statements to that effect, nor has his office issued a comment or information in response to media inquiry.
