A retired detective from Chicago suggests that the city could benefit from following the example of a southern city where crime rates have decreased significantly. Memphis experienced a 43.7% drop in homicides during the first half of 2026 compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, as reported by the Major Cities Chiefs Association. This substantial decrease followed the deployment of National Guard troops, approved by President Donald Trump through an executive order in September 2025.
In a recent night in Chicago, nine people were shot, with three fatalities. Among these incidents, two men suffered critical injuries in the Near North Side area when shots were fired.
“While sitting in our living room, we thought it was a rainstorm, but by the time we looked outside, lights were flashing everywhere,” a local shared with FOX 32.
Eugene Roy, a former Chief of Detectives in Chicago, expressed concern to Fox News Digital about the city’s underutilization of federal resources amidst a shortage of officers. He noted, “Chicago faces a shortage of 2,500 police officers compared to two or three years ago. Continuing operations with such constraints is untenable.” Roy emphasized the lack of collaboration between local law enforcement and federal authorities in tackling street-level crime.
The police shortage in Chicago has been aggravated by a decision in November 2025 to halt training at the police academy, reducing new recruits to around 50 each month, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. This measure was part of a response to a $1.2 billion budget deficit.
In Memphis, the integration of local and federal efforts, particularly involving the National Guard, created a ‘success story.’ “Memphis shows what collaboration can achieve,” Roy stated, adding that cooperation from state and local levels facilitated positive results. “The visible presence of law enforcement deters crime,” he explained. “When potential offenders perceive high police visibility, they may reconsider criminal activities.”
Memphis recorded 67 homicides in the first six months of 2026, down from 119 in the same period of 2025, underscoring effective collaboration strategies as noted by the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
If Chicago adopts a similar approach, Roy believes the city would see improvements similar to Memphis and other cities that engaged in cooperative federal and local crime-reduction efforts.
Roy also mentioned that it’s not uncommon for Democratic governors to deploy the National Guard for crime prevention. In March 2024, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul sent over 1,000 National Guard members to the NYC subway system following a spate of crimes, aiming to deter potential criminal activities with increased vigilance.