United States Senator Lamar Alexander joined local Operation: Safe Community leaders in a recent announcement of more than $14 million in new federal, state and local funding for the crime fighting plan. Also announced were Team Leaders from local and state governments committed to implementing the comprehensive public safety component of Memphis Fast Forward, which aims to make Memphis and Shelby County one of the safest communities of its size.
District Attorney Bill Gibbons, who chairs the Operation: Safe Community effort, called the new funding and announcement of Team Leaders “major steps showing our joint commitment to get this plan implemented.”
Alexander spearheaded an effort for a special federal appropriation to support Operation: Safe Community. He was supported by U.S. Senator Bob Corker, Congressman Steve Cohen, and other members of the Tennessee congressional delegation. The new funding announced by the group totals $14,773,918, with over $2 million in recent grants from the Memphis City Council.
Gibbons notes that implementation of the plan was “in its second critical year” and the addition of Team Leaders was critical to continued momentum. In addition to District Attorney Gibbons, Operation: Safe Community Team Leaders include: County Commission Mike Carpenter; Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash; City Councilman Harold Collins; State Representative John DeBerry; City of Memphis Community Enhancement Director Ernest Dobbins; City Councilman Shea Flinn; Memphis Police Department Director Larry Godwin; City Councilman Reid Hedegpeth; University of Memphis Professor of Criminology Richard Janikowski; State Senator Jim Kyle; Acting U.S. Attorney Larry Laurenzi; Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell; County Commissioner Diedre Malone; State Senator Mark Norris; Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person; Shelby County Schools Superintendent Bobby Webb; and County Mayor A C Wharton.
For More Information Contact: Jennifer Donnals (901) 545-5988
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