West Tennessee bishop issues statement on Trump’s troops deployment to Memphis

[Episcopal News Service] West Tennessee Bishop Phoebe Roaf, whose diocese is based in Memphis, issued a statement Sept. 29 responding to the Trump administration’s deployment of troops to the city to combat crime. Residents want safe communities, Roaf said, but she emphasized the need to trust local leaders and instead address the root causes of crime.

“If federal troops can help further reduce crime in Memphis through nonviolent, constructive efforts, that would be a positive step for our community. However, military force by itself is not a long-term solution,” Roaf said. “Reducing poverty, improving educational opportunities, expanding the public transportation system, and enhancing access to mental health services are essential components of a comprehensive plan to deter crime.

“Religious, non-profit and philanthropic organizations must serve as partners in this effort,” Roaf said in the message to her diocese, “and I encourage you to identify ways to get engaged.”

President Donald Trump authorized the Tennessee National Guard to deploy to Memphis as early as Sept. 29 as part of a broader crackdown on what he has claimed is out-of-control crime in certain American cities, particularly those led by Democratic officials. He also has said he would send Oregon National Guard troops into Portland despite the state’s governor and the city’s mayor saying the troops are not needed.

Trump said he was targeting Memphis for intervention because it was “suffering from tremendous levels of violent crime that have overwhelmed its local government’s ability to respond effectively.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a fellow Republican, has welcomed the federal assistance. Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, has said he did not request the troops and doesn’t think they are equipped to do much more than help “clearing more vacant lots, removing more trash, and restoring more blocks.”

Roaf, in her statement, also noted that representatives from 13 federal law enforcement agencies will be arriving in Memphis, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

“Episcopalians throughout West Tennessee have expressed a variety of opinions about this matter,” she said. “Regardless of your feelings on the subject, the presence of military equipment and troops patrolling the streets of Memphis will mark a significant change from what we are accustomed to experiencing.”

Crime this year in Memphis already has declined significantly since 2023 highs, Roaf said.

“I hope that local law enforcement and community leaders will be given an opportunity to play a key role in coordinating the work of the federal agents,” she said. “We understand the nuances of the greater Memphis area in ways that outsiders do not.”

– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.