The Crime Commission and the new Public Safety Institute (PSI) at the University of Memphis have teamed up to make the new Operation: Safe Community (OSC) crime plan a true applied research agenda.

The Crime Commission is taking the lead in working with key stakeholders to implement the sixteen objectives under the plan.  The PSI will take the lead in ensuring that each objective is evaluated as it advances to determine whether or not it is working and whether adjustments need to be made.

The PSI has three staff members employed by the University of  Memphis, led by Bill Gibbons as executive director. He is serving as well as president of the Crime Commission to help ensure a seamless research-practice partnership. Other staff members include Executive Assistant Linda Russell who also serves as Crime Commission vice-president for communications and development, and Dr. Angela Madden, research associate professor charged with overseeing the evaluation of all aspects of the OSC plan.

The Crime Commission has three paid staff members who work to advance the plan. Harold Collins serves as vice-president for community engagement. Brona Pinnolis serves as vice-president for strategic development. Sam Walker serves as the executive assistant for the Crime Commission.

Major Charles Newell serves as the MPD’s official liaison with the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission.

“We are very fortunate to have people in key positions who work tirelessly to advance the new OSC plan and make our community an even better place,” said Ben Adams, chair of the Crime Commission board of directors.