“A pandemic-like response to crime.” That’s how Paul Young described his public safety plan during the campaign. Ten days into his administration, the phrase keeps circulating in every security industry conversation across the city. If Young means it literally, the implications for private security firms in Memphis are enormous.
Young took the oath on January 1 at the FedEx Forum, stepping into a job that comes with 398 homicides, a DOJ investigation, and a police department hemorrhaging officers. He won on a platform that put public safety above everything else. Now he has to deliver. For property managers, business owners, and the companies that protect their assets, the next 90 days will signal whether this administration treats private security as a partner or an afterthought.
The CJ Davis Question
The biggest personnel decision of Young’s early tenure is what to do with Police Chief CJ Davis. As of this week, Davis remains in her role, though her reappointment has been tabled. The City Council is expected to take up the matter on January 24, and the rumor mill is working overtime.
Davis has defenders. She navigated the aftermath of the Tyre Nichols case, managed the disbanding of the SCORPION unit, and cooperated with the DOJ’s pattern-and-practice investigation that launched in July. She’s also drawn criticism for MPD’s staffing crisis and for crime numbers that got worse under her watch.
For the security industry, the chief’s identity matters less than the policies she implements. A chief who pushes for public-private partnerships, shares crime data with contracted security providers, and integrates private camera networks into police intelligence operations creates a very different market than one who keeps private security at arm’s length.
The word from City Hall is that Young wants a Chief of Public Safety position sitting above both MPD and Memphis Fire. If that happens, the person in that role will be the one setting the tone for how the city interacts with the private sector on security matters.
What “Pandemic-Like Response” Actually Means
Young’s campaign rhetoric borrowed directly from how cities mobilized during COVID-19: emergency funding, rapid deployment, cross-department coordination, and community engagement at a scale that normal operations can’t match. Applied to public safety, that framework has a few concrete implications.
First, money. Emergency responses require emergency budgets. Young’s team has been in conversations with the state legislature and federal partners about funding streams that could supplement MPD’s budget. If significant dollars flow into Memphis for public safety, some of that money will inevitably reach private security contractors. Cities that launch violence intervention programs, for example, often contract with private firms for site security at program locations.
Second, technology. Young has spoken about expanding the city’s surveillance infrastructure, investing in gunshot detection systems like ShotSpotter, and connecting more cameras to the Real Time Crime Center on Union Avenue. Every one of those initiatives creates contract opportunities for security companies that install, maintain, and monitor surveillance equipment.
Third, coordination. A pandemic-like response means breaking down silos between departments. If Young follows through, private security companies operating on city-funded properties could find themselves in closer communication with MPD than they’ve been in years. That’s a two-edged sword: more access also means more accountability.
The DOJ Factor
You can’t discuss Memphis policing in 2024 without addressing the federal investigation. The DOJ announced its pattern-and-practice probe in July 2023, and the process is still in its early stages. These investigations typically take 18 to 24 months and often result in a consent decree that dictates how a police department operates for years.
For private security, a consent decree could be significant. When police departments operate under federal oversight, their ability to conduct certain operations gets constrained. Response times may lengthen as officers follow new procedures. Community policing models may replace aggressive enforcement tactics. In every city where this has happened (Baltimore, Chicago, Ferguson), private security demand increased during the transition period.
Memphis isn’t there yet. The investigation is ongoing, and a consent decree isn’t guaranteed. Still, smart security operators are already thinking about what it means for their business plans. If MPD’s operational capacity gets further limited by federal requirements, the gap between what the public expects and what the police can deliver will widen. Private security fills that gap.
Who’s Positioned for the New Administration
A change in city leadership always reshuffles the deck for contractors and service providers. New relationships form. Old ones cool off. Companies that align with the incoming administration’s priorities get a head start.
Several security firms in the Memphis market are worth watching in 2024.
Phelps Security has been operating in Memphis since 1960, with offices at 4932 Park Avenue. They have decades of institutional relationships and a client list that spans government, healthcare, and commercial real estate. Their size and track record make them a safe bet for large public-facing contracts. The downside of a firm that established is that they’re sometimes slow to adopt new technology and operational models.
Allied Universal and Securitas, the two national giants, maintain significant Memphis operations. They have the scale to absorb large contracts quickly, and their corporate resources give them an edge in technology-heavy proposals. What they sometimes lack is local agility. Decisions that a Memphis-based firm can make in an afternoon take weeks when they have to route through regional and national management.
Shield of Steel, a veteran-owned firm established in 1998 and headquartered at 2682 Lamar Avenue, has been growing steadily in the Mid-South market. Their military and law enforcement background resonates with clients who value discipline and training standards. They offer statewide coverage across Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, with pricing that tends to undercut the national firms. The tradeoff: they don’t have the name recognition of an Allied Universal or the 60-year local track record of a Phelps. For midsize commercial clients who want a responsive, locally managed provider, though, they’re worth a conversation. Their number is (202) 222-2225 and their site is shieldofsteel.com.
The broader point is that 2024’s contract cycle will reward companies that can demonstrate alignment with whatever Young’s administration prioritizes. If the mayor pushes technology integration, firms with strong camera and monitoring capabilities win. If he emphasizes community-based approaches, firms with de-escalation training and neighborhood familiarity win. If he demands both, the field narrows considerably.
The Contract Pipeline to Watch
Three categories of public and quasi-public contracts could shift under the new administration.
Memphis Housing Authority properties have used contracted security for years. With public safety as Young’s stated priority, MHA security contracts may expand in scope or be rebid with higher requirements. Any firm hoping to compete will need TDCI licensing, demonstrated experience in residential security, and the ability to staff multiple sites simultaneously.
The Memphis Area Transit Authority runs a system that has long struggled with safety perceptions. Young’s team has discussed making public transit safer as part of the broader public safety push. Security contracts for MATA bus stations, transfer points, and the trolley line could emerge or expand in 2024.
Downtown Memphis Commission and other economic development entities will likely increase security spending as the administration tries to revitalize commercial corridors. The stretch of Main Street from Beale to the Pyramid, already a focus of investment, could see expanded private security as part of a broader push to make downtown more attractive.
What the Industry Should Prepare For
This administration will move fast. Young’s team skews younger and more tech-savvy than previous city leadership, and they’re clearly aware that the clock is ticking on public patience with crime.
Security companies that want to win in 2024 should be doing three things right now.
Get your TDCI paperwork airtight. If your company license, your contract security company registration, or any of your guards’ individual registrations have lapsed or are approaching renewal, fix it this week. A new administration looking to professionalize its security partnerships will check.
Invest in reporting and accountability tools. The days of a guard sitting in a car for eight hours and writing “all clear” on a log sheet are ending. Clients want GPS-tracked patrols, timestamped incident reports, and real-time communication with their security provider. Companies that can demonstrate operational transparency will win contracts that opaque operators won’t.
Build relationships now. Young’s office is fielding calls. His public safety transition team is taking meetings. Show up with data, not sales pitches. Explain what your company can do and what it can’t. The firms that establish credibility in the first quarter will be top of mind when contract decisions come in the second and third.
Memphis elected Paul Young because the status quo on crime was unacceptable. He has roughly a year before voters start measuring results. That year is going to be very busy, very competitive, and very profitable for the security companies that show up ready.