Former Chicago detective says one city's murder plunge offers Windy City crime blueprint

A former Chicago detective says the Windy City should look to a southern city where murders have plunged since the National Guard members moved in to find a way out of its crime crisis.

Homicides in Memphis fell 43.7% during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period the prior year, according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order in September 2025 authorizing the deployment of the National Guard, allowing troops to arrive in Memphis that fall.