Homicide rates drop in Memphis, Shelby County

The homicide rate in Memphis fell by 17.6 percent compared to this time in 2017, according to new report released by the University of Memphis Public Safety Institute and the Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission.

Countywide, the murder dropped by 14.5 percent.

The latest figures released by the Commission are comprised of preliminary data that local law enforcement agencies report to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The report also showed a decline in robberies both in Memphis and all of rate

Shelby County with decreases of 12.4 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively. Reported rape cases decreased by 18.2 percent in Memphis, and 16.6 percent across Shelby County.

The president of the Commission, Bill Gibbons noted that while many citizens may not sense that violent crimes and property crimes are trending downwards, the declines are “significant”.

Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich expressed her hope that, “This momentum will continue and result in even better numbers by the end of the year,” according to the report.

One area, reported aggravated assaults, did see a slight uptick of 1.9 percent in Memphis and 2.8 percent in all of Shelby County. The volume of aggregated assaults factored in with all other major violent crimes did stunt the rate of decline for the category overall — 3 percent in Memphis and 1.8 percent countywide.