Memphis police officers spent Halloween week swapping patrol duties for pop-up scares, turning the Tillman Station into a haunted house that drew nearly 1,000 visitors from the surrounding community. The transformation was part of a broader citywide effort that paired haunted attractions with Trunk or Treat events at stations across Memphis, giving kids a chance to collect candy and meet officers outside the usual enforcement setting.
“Officers have turned the Tillman Station into a haunted house!” actionnews5.com reported, describing the spooky makeover at the station. According to the Memphis Police Department, the haunted house drew nearly 1,000 visitors. Once the scares were over, families could head outside for sweets. “Once everyone's had their fill of the scares, they can get some sweets by Trunk or Treating,” the outlet noted.
The Memphis Police Department's Nextdoor listing for Trunk or Treat with Tillman Station was published in 2016. Tillman Station's patrol area is sizable, covering 24.68 square miles and an estimated 90,136 residents, per the Memphis Police Department.
Trunk or Treat Events Spread Citywide
A Fox13 Memphis report published October 31, 2024, described dozens of families attending an MPD drive-through Trunk or Treat event. The report said officers used the gathering to pass along pedestrian safety tips alongside the candy.
At the 2024 event, police warned drivers to be cautious of trick-or-treaters roaming the streets across the city, the same report noted. Officers also recommended that children stick to familiar, well-lit areas, trick-or-treat in groups, avoid costumes that block vision, and stay visible in the dark.
Why Officials Stress Pedestrian Caution
The safety push reflects a pattern seen nationally. Children are three times more likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to federal highway safety data cited by The Washington Post. Citing MPD's Facebook page, fox13memphis.com also reported that children ages 4 to 8 are 10 times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween night than any other age group.
The Memphis Police Department's post marking the Tillman Station festivities carried the hashtags #StrongerSaferMemphis, #TillmanStation and #Halloween2026, and reiterated the same driver warnings: be responsible, stay alert, and watch for pedestrians.
Part of a Bigger Regional Halloween Push
Memphis police weren't the only local agency getting into the spirit. A regional guide compiled by 901today.com listed more than 60 trunk-or-treat events across Memphis, the suburbs, DeSoto County and West Memphis as of mid-October. The Memphis Fire Department announced its second annual trunk-or-treat for the fall, with the date and time still to be finalized at the time of that report; its first edition the previous year featured decorated fire trucks, candy, food, games and a fire-safety trailer that let kids climb aboard the vehicles.
Outside the city, the 901today.com guide listed a Millington Police Department trunk-or-treat. Together, the events reflect a regionwide effort to pair Halloween fun with safety messaging, with Memphis police using the Tillman Station haunted house as one of the season's most visible examples.
