Memphis is reeling from gun violence. This epidemic of violent crime affects our willingness to buy groceries, stop and get gas, or attend a sporting event — or even to take a simple walk.

Just a couple weeks ago, a young man named Myra Kirkendoll was walking home from Trezevant High School in Frayser, talking with some friends. Myra was a senior who planned to move out of state and go to culinary school. But that dream was cut short when someone drove by and shot into the group of people he was with, killing Myra.

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The night before that, a young family — husband, wife and baby daughter who had just moved to our city — was taking what should have been a quiet walk Downtown. What started as a robbery took a heartbreaking turn, and that young father’s life was ended far too soon. A senseless act of violence stole his future, forever changed the lives of his wife and child. It will even impact the work he came here to do at one of the world’s leading research hospitals for pediatric disease.

These are just two of an unacceptable number of recent violent acts in our city. I’ve been a federal prosecutor in Memphis for almost two decades, and I’ve lived in the city for most of my life. As United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, I know that Memphians are sick and tired of gun violence and violent crime. I am too.

Gun violence is a problem with many causes, and there will need to be many solutions. Vigorous enforcement of federal criminal laws is an important one.

There is no higher priority for me or for my team. As part of the Department of Justice, our office manages important law enforcement partnerships such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Safe Streets Task Force and the Multi-Agency Gang Unit. Together with the dedicated agents and officers of the FBI, ATF, Memphis Police Department and other agencies, we work every day to identify the people and groups that drive violence in our city and remove them from our streets.

And this week, we announced that Memphis will be getting help to do even more.

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The Justice Department is deploying additional federal resources to tackle the violent crime problem in Memphis. Several prosecutors from the Department’s Criminal Division will embed themselves in Memphis and help us build bigger, more coordinated cases against gang members, trigger-pullers and shot-callers.

Federal laws against racketeering, firearms, carjacking, robbery and drugs are already among our toughest tools — tools that carry robust penalties. We use these tools every day, but we are doubling down. The threat from organized criminal enterprises requires that we use those tools more aggressively and work across agencies to bring the federal government’s significant resources to bear.

These additional prosecutors will work hand-in-hand with our experienced Assistant United States attorneys, as well as law enforcement officers from federal, state and local agencies. Together, we will take on those individuals who have been committing senseless acts of violence in our city.

I am deeply thankful to Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri and Department leadership for this significant commitment to public safety in Memphis. Keeping Americans safe is a core piece of the Department’s mission.

But our violent crime reduction strategy can’t rely solely on enforcement and prosecution. I’m proud to say that our office takes careful steps to foster trust and legitimacy in the community by investing in grassroots prevention and intervention programs. We’re strong supporters of focused deterrence programs, violence interruption initiatives and efforts to remove obstacles for ex-offenders who are reentering society. We also engage in continuous outreach with community groups, faith leaders and neighborhood associations.

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After all, prosecutors and law enforcement can’t just show up when it’s time to put someone in jail. We have to also show up to understand what’s happening in our city, to find solutions and — most importantly — to listen.

During this sustained crime reduction initiative, the Department’s prosecutors will engage directly with community members to learn more about the problems they face and the terrible impact of violent crime on our neighborhoods. This community engagement is key. We know we cannot imprison our way out of the violent crime problem. And law enforcement can’t do their jobs without trust and buy-in from the community.

I’m proud that the Department of Justice is stepping up to meet the moment with these additional resources. The dedicated federal public servants of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department’s Criminal Division are committed to making Memphis a safer place to live, work and play.