A Little About Us

In 2005, former Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, former Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton, the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce along with Memphis Tomorrow developed an ambitious plan to accelerate economic growth in Memphis and Shelby County.

The plan, “Memphis Fast Forward,” identified increased public safety as a necessity in order to reach economic growth and prosperity goals in the community. Operation: Safe Community (OSC) is a strategic initiative to reduce crime in Memphis & Shelby County spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission.

The crime-reduction initiative, chaired by Bill Gibbons, Shelby County District Attorney General, utilizes 15 research-based strategies developed in partnership with The University of Memphis’ Center for Community Criminology and Research (C3R). It also engages 20 strategy leaders in an effort to make Memphis and Shelby County one of the safest communities of its size in the nation by the end of 2011.