The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is stepping in to take over the probe into an incident involving Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer and deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). The altercation, which has sparked considerable controversy, reportedly occurred at the Judge D'Army Bailey Courthouse on Adams Avenue and involved Sawyer's personal security guard, who was armed at the time.
According to Action News 5, the incident first came to light when State Senator Brent Taylor posted a two-minute video excerpt on Facebook. This has led to calls by the Republican Party of Shelby County for Sawyer’s resignation, alleging her behavior was "wholly inappropriate and incompatible with public office." The full video is said to be over 53 minutes long, though only a short segment was shared publicly by Taylor.
However, Sawyer is defending her actions. In a Facebook post highlighted by WREG, she justified the need for personal security, asserting that she had followed all county rules and had previously informed county officials of the security guard's presence. Her statement also pushes back against the accusations stemming from the video and claims that the clip does not represent the full scope of the events that transpired.
The SCSO internal review found the deputies had acted in line with their training and department policies, a detail confirmed by both Local Memphis and Action News 5. "The conduct of the deputies involved revealed that they acted professionally and consistently with their training and SCSO policies during the interactions," Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. stated. Despite this review, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office has decided to involve the TBI for a further impartial inquiry.
Tami Sawyer has expressed that she has been experiencing a heightened level of stress, dealing with concerns including advocacy for Memphis amid a so-called federal occupation, preparing her team for increased caseloads amid budget cuts, and threats to her personal safety. "Over the past few weeks, I have been under immense stress — advocating for Memphis in the face of a federal occupation, preparing my team for increased caseloads and budget cuts, and receiving credible death threats," Sawyer told Local Memphis. She compared the current political attacks to intimidation tactics, but reaffirmed her determination not to be silenced or intimidated.
