Memphis police officers, along with federal agents with the Memphis Safe Task Force, walk through a parking lot in northeast Memphis during the clearing of an encampment on Oct. 28. (Photo by Andrea Morales / MLK50)

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Many of the arrests made since the Memphis Safe Task Force began its work have been for traffic violations and drug charges, despite its stated focus on violent crime, according to new data shared with MLK50: Justice Through Journalism.

“This is supposed to be a ‘Make Memphis Safe Task Force,’ and really what it is, is a ‘Make Memphis Drive the Speed Limit Task Force,’” said General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer, whose office will make the data public through a ne

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