By at least one measure, the homicide rate in Memphis this year is nearly twice that of Chicago, a town that is generating unwanted notoriety for its soaring number of killings.
Through the end of March in Memphis, 60 people had been killed in the violent first three months of the year. As of the latest U.S. Census estimate, the Memphis population stands at 656,861, for a homicide rate of 9.13 victims per 100,000 population.
Through the same period in Chicago, 151 people had been killed. As of the latest U.S. Census estimate, the Chicago population stands at 2,722,389, for a homicide rate of 5.55 victims per 100,000 population.
If the Memphis numbers continue rising at that rate for the rest of the year, the city would record more than 240 homicides, a tally that would obliterate the record of 213 set in 1993.
By any measure, it’s too much death, too much killing. And it’s overwhelming those in the city charged with responding to it.
“It’s an emotional strain on everybody right now, the whole community,” Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich said. “But in terms of strain on the office, sure. That’s potentially 60 more cases of the most serious nature. These are the most emotionally draining and difficult cases we handle.”
Memphis Police Department Acting Lt. Col. of Investigative Services Caroline Mason said the homicide unit was coping with the influx, aided by solving 46 of the 60 killings.
“Homicide is a tight-knit unit. The morale is high because they are solving these cases,” she said. “It’s not like it’s 60 unknown, or mysteries. Again, the solve rate is 77 percent.”
When asked how much extra stress the homicide increase has put on the unit, Mason said, “I wouldn’t say anything about extra stress, because this is just what we do.”
But a former homicide detective who spent 17 years in the unit before his retirement said he’s heard the strain has been (continue reading)