Christopher Blank

Since President Donald Trump approved the Memphis Safe Task Force last Friday, wary community leaders have debated enhanced public safety versus the optics of a military presence.

Governor Lee stressed a cautious approach.

Though the city's crime rate hit a 25-year low in the past eight months, officials are aiming for permanent reductions.

To start, the governor pledged more than 300 state troopers and $100 million toward crime-fighting technology.

Troops, he says, will be unarmed unless local law enforcement requests otherwise and will have no power to make arrests.

For NPR News, I'm Christopher Blank in Memphis.

Since President Donald Trump approved the Memphis Safe Task Force last Friday, wary community leaders have debated enhanced public safety versus the optics of a military presence.

Governor Lee stressed a cautious approach.

Though the city's crime rate hit a 25-year low in the past eight months, officials are aiming for permanent reductions.

To start, the governor pledged more than 300 state troopers and $100 million toward crime-fighting technology.

Troops, he says, will be unarmed unless local law enforcement requests otherwise and will have no power to make arrests.

For NPR News, I'm Christopher Blank in Memphis.