MEMPHIS, Tenn — The candidates for Memphis mayor are releasing statements following the nine indictments in the Gershun Freeman case.
Gershun Freeman died in the Shelby County Jail on October 5, 2022. A video of the altercation inside the jail showing Freeman being beaten and restrained by multiple correctional officers was released on March 2.
Sheriff Floyd Bonner released the following statement after the video was released:
"According to the Medical Examiner, Mr. Gershun Freeman suffered from psychosis and cardiovascular disease and died of a heart attack while being restrained. It is unfortunate that parts of the video are being shown out of context because the full video does show the erratic and violent behavior that led to the need to restrain Mr. Freeman.
These corrections officers deserve a fair review of this case, and I will wait for additional information from the TBI and the investigating D.A. before taking further administrative action. This is still an open and active investigation."
On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Sheriff Bonner held a press conference announcing nine deputies were indicted in the case, and he said he will offer legal fees for those deputies to fight the case.
Several of his political opponents for Memphis mayor weighed in Wednesday night and Thursday.
Paul Young shared the following statement:
"Tonight's press conference does nothing to mend the relationship between officers and our community. What we need is justice, accountability, and leadership that gets it. My condolences go out to the family of Gershun Freeman, and I pray that they find the peace and resolution they deserve.”
Michelle McKissack called on the United States Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into Bonner and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in the following statement:
“I am gravely disturbed that Floyd Bonner is claiming that upholding the law is a political attack. Someone died. Multiple officers were charged with that death. It is unconscionable that Bonner’s ego wants to make this about his political career.
This is about the culture Floyd Bonner has created in the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and our jail.
Floyd Bonner is failing to provide justice, and now he is crying foul when state prosecutors step in to truly provide justice for Memphians.
Since Floyd Bonner became sheriff in 2018, 40 people have died in the county jails. This is astonishing. The lives of these 40 people matter. This is worse than Riker’s Island. It is time that Bonner and his department are held accountable.
That’s why I’m calling on the United States Department of Justice to open a Civil Rights Investigation into Bonner and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.”
Van Turner shared his thoughts on the indictments in the following statement:
“Shame on the Sheriff for his lack of accountability. Unfortunately, this is what we have come to expect from someone who fails to provide leadership and oversight and is only focused on his next position and not the current one he was elected to do. He shows his lack of ability to lead at 201 Poplar. If you can't lead 201, how can you lead 901?”
ABC24 reached out to Willie Herenton, who said his campaign has no comment at this time.
JW Gibson spoke with ABC24 directly, expressing his "disappointment" in Bonner.
"The biggest disappointment is we have heard him talk about following procedures and allowing the process to play itself out. Him holding that press conference before the indictment was actually brought forth - which I understand it's due Monday - is totally, from what I'm hearing from Attorney Brown and others, against state law," he said.
Gibson said Bonner "can't have it both ways."
"You can't follow the strictness of the law and withhold evidence, withhold comments on an investigation, and then on the other side, openly disobey the state law by commenting on these indictments before the appropriate time," he said. "At the end of the day, I really do believe this is another sign of how Sheriff Bonner is not appropriately equipped to not only serve as our sheriff, but surely not equipped to serve as the leader of the city of Memphis."
Mayoral candidate and current Tennessee House Rep. Karen Camper released the following statement:
"At a time when the public trust in our law enforcement institutions is rapidly eroding, Sheriff Bonner's press conference demonstrated an alarming tone deafness. Our city and communities need and deserve transparency.
Whether it is providing traffic stop footage in public to ensure that citizens civil rights were protected or video inside the Shelby County Jail to ensure that inmates' civil rights are not violated; we must come clean with the public about whether or not there was wrongdoing.
Since 2019, 40 inmates have died while in custody at the Shelby County Jail, I believe Sheriff Bonner owes it to those families and our community to provide answers and transparency instead of hiding the truth."
Sheriff Bonner's campaign released the following statement Thursday:
“Anyone who has seen the video or followed this case knows that the jailers took necessary steps to restrain an inmate that was violent and dangerous and posed a threat to themselves and other inmates. As noted by the coroner, it is unfortunate that he had serous underlying heart disease and it’s unfortunate he died of a heart attack.
I stand by these officers and am honestly ashamed of my opponents who are looking to capitalize off of an unfortunate and tragic death. The indictment is clearly an orchestrated political stunt just two weeks before Election Day and the people of Memphis can see through this blatant disregard for justice and the gross attack on public safety officers.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whose office is representing Gershun Freeman's family, released this statement:
“The news of these nine indictments in the death of Gershun Freeman comes after a long fight for justice in his name and reflects the fight for justice for so many who die in custody. No person deserves to die in prison at the hands of those who are responsible for them and their care, no matter what they are incarcerated for. Our justice system cannot continue to be overridden by those who take on the role as jury, judge, and executioner.”