07/10/2026
ππππ π
ππππ πππππ π
πππ: The Memphis Safe Task Force is facing intense scrutiny following two fatal law enforcement shootings in a single week, sparking outrage among residents who feel they are living in an "occupied city."
The most recent incident occurred on Wednesday, when a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent shot and killed 47-year-old Alfonso Ivy at an East Memphis hotel after Ivy allegedl-pointed a handgun while fleeing a warrant. Just days prior, early Sunday morning, Tennessee National Guard soldiers fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson during a downtown foot pursuit after he reportedly turned toward them with a weapon. These back-to-back incidents mark fiv task-force-involved shootings since its deployment. While the Trump administration and Governor Bill Lee point to a 40% drop in serious crime as proof of effectiveness, critics, activists, and a pending ACLU lawsuit accuse the heavily armed, multi-agency force of using overly aggressive tactics and unconstitutionally retaliating against citizens trying to film their
operations.