Memphis Cops commit a hate crime INSIDE the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center
This video, taken February 12th 2008 clearly shows Memphis police Officer Bridges McRae, 28 walk over to Duanna Johnson - a transsexual suspect being held after a prostitution arrest - and hit her in the face several times while Officer James Swain, 25 holds her back.
The beating began after the bigoted officer got upset when she refused to answer to anti-gay slurs such as “faggot” and “he-she”. This is unacceptable behavior for a public servant. This is a violent assault proceeded by hate speech. Sounds like a hate crime to me. After the incident the Police dropped the prostitution arrest against Ms. Johnson (no doubt hoping that would be the end of it), but no charges have been filed against the officers in question.
I hope they throw the book at the officers, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Swain is no longer with the MPD, but McRae has only been placed on non-enforcement status pending an administrative hearing. I hope Duanna Johnson presses charges.
video wouldn’t embed - but here is a link.
If you’d like to know what is being done about this, ask the Mayor of Memphis or the District Attorney’s office… their contact info is after the video, and elected officials are always the best ones to deluge with complaints. The DA’s office has the discretion to prosecute who they want and I spoke to their media rep Jennifer Donnals who says they have NO PLANS to prosecute these officers. Lets see if we can change that.
Mayor Willie W. Herenton
City Hall
125 N. Main St. Room 700
Memphis, Tn 38103
901-576-6007
Shelby County District Attorney’s Office
201 Poplar Avenue, Third Floor
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
901-545-5900
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Jennifer Donnals, Communications Director
901-545-5988
jennifer.donnals@scdag.com
A request for a comment from the Memphis Police Department resulted in them sending the following prepared statement…
If you liked this, try these...The Memphis Police Department does not condone any misconduct of a police officer that will compromise official law enforcement duties or the rights or safety of our citizens.
As it relates to the February incident that occurred at the jail facility, the police department has been conducting a thorough internal investigation. The details surrounding the complainant, witnesses and law enforcement officials’ statements are part of an ongoing investigation and can not be released at this time.
As a standard departmental policy, a full, impartial hearing will be held with the accused officer.
Memphis Police can confirm the work status of the two primary officers involved in this complaint. Officer J. Swain was a probationary officer and has been separated from the Memphis Police Department. Officer B. McRae has been placed on non-enforcement status pending an administrative hearing.
Memphis Police can also confirm the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been notified and requested to look into the complaint further.
Regards,
Detective Monique Y. Martin
Memphis Police Department
Office of Public Information/Media Relations
201 Poplar Avenue Room 12-08
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
901.545.3024 office
901.545.5740 fax
pio@memphistn.gov
www.memphispolice.org
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Tags: Anti-Gay Violence, Politics
June 18th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
This is truly shameful. The fact that the officers took no effort to hide their assault from the security cameras exposes a larger problem with the Memphis Police Department. It is obvious the perpetrators did not feel that their superiors would care. It’s different world and a different America, Memphis PD. Wake up and pay the lady! I’m sure she could have kicked both the officers’ asses had they been out of uniform and on her turf! I hope she gets a million dollars. I really do.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
That is EXACTLY how I feel and why I felt the need to tell as many people as I can reach about this. PLEASE TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW!!! And call or e-mail Memphis about this. They need to know the world is watching or nothing will change - as they obviously felt noone who was going to see would have aproblem with it. If it wasn’t for a reporter at WMC-TV they might have been right.
Can you say inside cover-up?
June 20th, 2008 at 2:19 am
This has just made national news. CNN’s Headline News ran the story for fifteen minutes this evening. (I noticed each and every one as I was doing cardio at the time.) Being that this is Pride month I’m certain this story is going to get a lot more attention.
The latest update is that one cop was fired; the other is on desk duty while an internal investigation continues. I believe at the very least that officer should be suspended without pay until this “investigation” is over. Personally I’d like to see a fair and level rematch. She’d so kick his ass without even breaking a nail or taking off her heels. People like this officer create fear and an illusion of powerlessness in their victims.
Then again, if this officer is so intent on unnecessary fights why don’t we just send him to the front lines of Iraq?