A former Chicago detective argues that the city should consider the strategies used by Memphis, where murders have significantly decreased after the National Guard was deployed. In Memphis, homicides fell by 43.7% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year. This data comes from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. In September 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to deploy the National Guard, allowing troops to arrive in Memphis that fall.
On a recent night, nine individuals were shot in various incidents across Chicago, with three fatalities. One particular incident involved two men critically injured after a shooting in the Near North Side neighborhood. Chicago has seen an alarming level of violence, with police officers also being wounded during incidents such as traffic stop shootouts. The shortage of officers in Chicago has been noted as a significant issue. The city now employs 2,500 fewer police officers compared to two or three years ago, according to retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy.
“You can’t keep doing more with less,” Roy stated. “There’s minimal cooperation between Chicago and federal authorities in street-level policing.”
The hiring pace and training of new recruits have slowed due to fiscal constraints, with the city addressing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall by reducing training classes and slowing hiring to about 50 recruits monthly, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Roy referenced Memphis as a case study on effective cooperation between local, state, and federal entities. Despite some city-level reluctance, Memphis saw success due to robust partnerships and the presence of the National Guard alongside federal law enforcement. The presence of police can deter crimes such as robbery and burglary, encouraging criminals to reconsider their actions.
Memphis recorded 67 homicides in the first half of 2026, a drop from 119 the previous year, as per the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Roy believes Chicago could see similar benefits if an approach similar to Memphis is adopted, emphasizing collaboration between federal and local governments.
The deployment of the National Guard is not unheard of and can be an effective deterrent. For example, New York’s Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 1,000 National Guard members to New York City’s subway system in 2024 following high-profile crimes. She noted that such measures can deter individuals from carrying weapons in public places.
Efforts to reach the Chicago Police Department and Illinois governor’s office for comments were made by Fox News Digital.
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