Once upon a time, badges and firearms were considered the leading tools in the fight against crime in American cities. Nowadays, things have shifted; now it seems like a simple spreadsheet has taken their place.
In Memphis, which has long been known for its intense struggle with violent crime, local political leaders have stumbled upon a new concern that worries them more than actual gunfire: the push for public transparency.
This became clear recently when I learned that for the first time in six years, the Ballinger family could mark a birthday celebration in their backyard.
Daricia Ballinger, who has seen this issue firsthand, reflects on the politicians who seem more intent on using tax dollars to obscure the truth than to confront it.
Conflict Zone
As a former news reporter in Memphis and a mother, Ballinger remembers well the sound of a stray bullet tearing through the walls of her home. One sultry evening, while in her living room, she witnessed three men emerge from the bushes and open fire on the neighboring house. Reacting instinctively, she grabbed her son and hurried to the safety of the bedroom.
“My son, who was just five at that time, started asking, ‘Why are we on the ground, Mom?’ I held him close until the chaos subsided,” Ballinger recounted via email. “I think there were about ten gunshots. When things calmed down and I went back, I saw glass on the floor and noticed bullet holes in the wall.”
Right beneath those holes, there lay her son’s toy, a place where he played every day. It’s hard to ignore; her quick thinking might’ve saved his life.
Though Ballinger eventually relocated her family a few miles away, she discovered that the new neighborhood was trapped in a cycle of crime, similar to before. Things began to change when the Memphis Safety Task Force was deployed to the area.
So-Called “Safe” Haven
Established as a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement, the Memphis Safety Task Force aims to tackle violent crime, illegal firearms, gangs, and fugitives. Supporters of the task force believe it is making strides against violent crime in Memphis, but there are critics as well. They argue that the task force’s aggressive methods threaten civil liberties, highlighting several troubling incidents, such as the ongoing investigation into the shooting death of Tyrin Johnson.
For Ballinger and her neighbors, the results were both immediate and real. Despite the persistent gunfire for several weeks, they experienced something novel: for the first time in six years, they were able to celebrate a birthday outdoors.
During that time, Ballinger did something that some would term the ultimate faux pas in modern journalism—she reported what she had seen. She publicly asserted that the task force had reduced violent crime in her area, a move that led to her firing for daring to interfere with the favored political narrative.
Challenge the Narrative
Her dismissal underscores a larger issue facing contemporary newsrooms where adhering to an established narrative seems increasingly necessary for job security. In earlier times, disagreements might spark editorial discussions. Today, they can lead to loss of employment. There’s an apparent fear among the powerful regarding what might occur if the public accesses verifiable data.
“I don’t think transparency should be scary for anyone,” Ballinger shared. “If decisions are made that impact our neighborhoods’ safety, the public deserves to know what’s happening and if such actions are effective.”
This principle is central to ongoing political and legal matters in Memphis.
Related: Her new neighborhood is deemed “safe,” yet she witnessed the aftermath of what was left behind.
Targeting the Unjust?
In May, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee enacted the Memphis Safety Task Force Responsibility Act. Rather than hold the task force accountable, this law requires that prosecutors—rather than police—report when significant cases handled by the task force are reduced, dismissed, or otherwise closed. Proponents argue that if the task force manages to nab dangerous criminals for court, the public ought to be informed of the outcomes.
However, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy opposes this, claiming it unfairly targets his office, breaches the constitutional autonomy of locally elected prosecutors, and imposes burdensome reporting requirements. He argues that complying would draw resources away from prosecuting crimes, while also demanding information that prosecutors have already made available through other means.
For Ballinger, the law merely insists that the government demonstrate how its pivotal safety initiatives are being executed.
Effective bureaucracies rely on data to illustrate their achievements. Conversely, a government that seeks to keep documents hidden suggests something concerning. When officials resist the release of information, it inevitably raises suspicions about what they might wish to conceal.
“When information is accessible, people aren’t left to rely on hearsay, political fabrications, or clashing narratives,” Ballinger said. “They can delve into the facts themselves, formulate informed questions, and hold public officials accountable.”
Emphasizing Public Safety
A faction of residents is standing firm against allowing the state attorney’s office to pursue a lawsuit that would cast Memphis back into obscurity. Ballinger is leading a petition on Change.org, urging Mulroy to withdraw the lawsuit and let the Transparency Act endure. This petition is gaining momentum because it frames public safety as a priority that transcends jurisdictional rivalries or political affiliations.
The political establishment views the Memphis Safety Task Force through the lens of a power struggle between organizational authority and judicial independence. For mothers like Ballinger, the situation is much simpler: it’s about the difference between a child who can grow up safely and one who might not have that opportunity.
“Facts should not be owned by a political party; they belong to the community,” Ballinger emphasized. “To me, transparency isn’t solely about aiding law enforcement, prosecutors, or politicians. It’s fundamentally about respecting the public.”
Residents of Memphis deserve a justice system that functions transparently, not shrouded in secrecy. If the prosecutor’s office believes its methods will yield superior outcomes compared to the task force, then let the data be its strongest advocate. There’s bound to be skepticism when there’s an effort to hide that data from the public eye. No family in Memphis should endure the cost of uncertainty that jeopardizes their safety.
