Empirical studies have confirmed what professionals have long asserted and we all have long suspected: most people don’t read past the headlines, but still feel confident in sharing and commenting on the article.
That seems to have been the experience this past week with at least some of the reaction to a guest editorial I published over the weekend in USA Today. It described a police use-of-force training I attended which gave me real concern. (You can read the full text of the op-ed here) Indeed, some folks I’ve talked to have admitted they didn’t look past the headline, and changed their tune once they did.
That training said that the controversial killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Eric Garner in New York City by police were justified, despite leading to a criminal conviction in the former case and severe administrative and civil punishments in the latter. It taught that if a suspect says “I can’t breathe,” it means they can breathe. It discussed valid medical concepts like positional asphyxia (where the suspect’s breathing is fatally obstructed by restraint) and discredited concepts like excited delirium (where the suspects supposedly have superhuman strength, become impervious to pain, and/or die inexplicably) in ways at odds with the consensus of most relevant medical organizations. One instructor joked, to great laughter, that police should just “put the suspect in the ambulance and let him die there.” Most important, in discussing dozens of cases, always the use of force was justified; never did they conclude that the police erred.
I believed then, and still believe, that such training is too biased.
The company giving the training has long drawn criticism from academics and police reform advocates, has been shunned by several police agencies, and yet is a widely used and influential source of training for police. Indeed, it trains many law enforcement officers across Tennessee and the U.S. That’s why I decided to express my concerns in a national publication.
Some said, incorrectly, that the editorial criticized law enforcement generally, or law enforcement training generally. As several respected commentators, including one who does trainings in a related area, have pointed out, that’s just not a reasonable reading of the piece. It was criticizing one training company (albeit an important one).
Indeed, in the op-ed itself I say that the “vast majority” of fatal encounters with police officers are justified. We all know officers have to make split-second decisions in stressful and dangerous situations, without the benefit of leisurely review and 20-20 hindsight. We value law enforcement, the critical relationship our office has with them, and the job done by hardworking people who risk their lives daily. Those who claimed the op-ed suggested otherwise either intentionally mischaracterized it for political purposes, or completely misread it---or, like I mentioned above, didn’t read past the headline.
It’s important not to let politically motivated mischaracterizations distract from the real issue. It’s essential we have balanced, careful training of police on the use of force—for public safety, and to ensure the public confidence in law enforcement that’s essential if we’re to continue our downward crime trend. If a law enforcement official gets wind of anything less, he not only has the right, but the duty, to sound the alarm.
That commitment to fairness, accountability, and justice is reflected in the daily work of our prosecutors. A jury trial victory this week by our staff illustrates that.
Presenting evidence and testimony from six witnesses, including the courageous testimony of the victim, ADAs Jack Gould and Annika Rush secured guilty verdicts on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery against Jermine Brunson. The jury’s decision held the defendant accountable for the abuse of a child, and Brunson now faces 8 to 24 years in prison at 100%, with no eligibility for probation.
While no verdict can undo the harm caused, cases like this demonstrate our commitment to standing with victims, pursuing justice, and ensuring that those who commit serious crimes are held accountable.
That case is recounted below, but I emphasize it in detail here—just in case you don’t read past the headline.
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Defendant Found Guilty as Charged on Two Counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery: Assistant District Attorneys Jack Gould and Annika Rush successfully prosecuted the case against Jermine Brunson, who was found guilty as charged on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery. Brunson now faces 8 to 24 years at 100% and is not eligible for probation.
Gould and Rush presented testimony from six witnesses during the trial, including the victim, whose courageous testimony proved instrumental in securing the guilty verdicts. After hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Brunson on both counts.
The case stems from the sexual abuse of a child by her biological father. Prosecutors proved Brunson sexually abused the victim on multiple occasions when she was a young child. Despite years of emotional trauma, the victim bravely testified at trial, identifying Brunson in court and recounting the abuse she endured. The State's evidence convinced the jury to return guilty verdicts on both counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery.
ADAs Jack Gould & Annika Rush handled the case.
Defendant Pleads Guilty in 13 Economic Crime Cases, Receives 12-Year Sentence: Glenis Campbell pleaded guilty to all 13 indictments filed against him and received a total effective sentence of 12 years at 35% along with full restitution. Assistant District Attorneys Jack Abrams and Dan Buchanan handled the prosecution.
The guilty pleas resolved 13 separate economic crime indictments that had been consolidated and set for trial on July 20, 2026. The indictments included charges of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Vulnerable Adult ($10,000–$60,000), Theft of Property ($10,000–$60,000), and Impersonating a Licensed Professional.
The case stems from a series of economic crimes in which prosecutors alleged Campbell posed as an attorney and accepted money from victims by falsely claiming he would represent them in legal matters. The scheme resulted in 13 separate indictments, which were ultimately resolved through guilty pleas.
ADAs Jack Abrams & Dan Buchanan handled the case.
Memphis Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Armed Robbery at Local Market: The case against Dwight Sears Jr. was resolved when he pleaded guilty as charged to Aggravated Robbery, a Class B felony, and received an eight-year sentence with a potential release eligibility of 85%. Assistant District Attorney Alexander Stephenson handled the prosecution.
The case stems from a January 23, 2025 incident in the parking lot of Viet Hoa Market on North Cleveland Street. Prosecutors proved Sears approached victim Kim Pham at gunpoint and demanded money. Two bystanders, Luam Nguyen and Son Tran, intervened to assist Pham, and Tran was struck by a stray bullet from Sears’ handgun during the struggle to disarm him. Tran was transported to Regional One for treatment and later recovered. Sears was detained and arrested at the scene.
ADA Alexander Stephenson handled the case.
Do The Write Thing DA Office, Student Ambassador Represents Memphis at National Recognition Summit
 (Pictured L-R): Memphis Business Academy teacher Toni Lester, DTWT Student Ambassador Rosa Hernandez, Rosa's father Mr. Noe Hernandez Sanchez, and Shelby County District Attorneys Office Communcations and Public Affairs Specialist and Memphis/Shelby County Chair for Do The Write Thing Allen Avant
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is proud to recognize Do The Write Thing Student Ambassador Rosa Hernandez of Memphis Business Academy for representing Memphis and Shelby County at the 2026 Do The Write Thing National Recognition Summit in Washington, D.C.
Allen Avant, Communications and Public Affairs Specialist with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and Memphis/Shelby County Chair for Do The Write Thing, traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the summit alongside Rosa, her teacher Toni Lester, and her father Noe Hernandez Sanchez.
Sponsored by the Kuwait-America Foundation, the summit brought together student ambassadors from across the country to celebrate their commitment to addressing youth violence and creating safer communities. During the weeklong event, students met with members of Congress, attended a reception at the Embassy of Kuwait, and had their published writings officially included in the Library of Congress.
Do The Write Thing is a national anti-violence initiative that empowers middle school students to share their experiences with violence, explore solutions for creating safer communities, and make a personal commitment to helping break cycles of violence.
 (Pictured L-R): Do The Write Thing Memphis/Shelby County Chair Allen Avant, Former Attorney General of Connecticut Clarine Nardi Riddle, and Student Ambassador Rosa Hernandez. AG Riddle served as the keynote speaker for the Do The Write Thing Library of Congress book presentation. She previously served as Attorney General of Connecticut from 1989 to 1991 and was the first and only woman to hold that position.
 DTWT Student Ambassadors pose for a photo at the DTWT Recognition Dinner held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
DA Mulroy Discusses Memphis Crime Trends, Public Safety Initiatives, and More on Memphis Flyer Podcast
 DA Mulroy joined the latest MemphisFlyer Podcast with Chris McCoy to discuss the recent decline in Memphis crime, the Memphis Safe Task Force, ICE, and what Star Trek: The Next Generation can teach us about crime, justice, and punishment.
Listen here: https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis-flyer-podcast-july-16-2026-da-steve-mulroy/
Instructors mocked the idea of “de-escalation,” and of using “trained mental health officers” to accompany police in mental health cases. The prosecutions of the officers accused of killing [George] Floyd and [Eric] Garner were “witch hunts.” The choke hold used to kill Garner had nothing to do with his death, despite medical examiners' conclusions that called that into question.
Indeed, the instructors said concerns about choke holds were overblown. If a suspect says “I can’t breathe” repeatedly, that means he can breathe – otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to say anything. |Your local police may be trained for violence. They shouldn't be. | Opinion| via USA Today
District Attorney Steve Mulroy said every delay can keep cases from moving forward. “The worst type of delay would be a delay in which the case is ready to be resolved, and the person is released from jail, and yet that is delayed because of this,” Mulroy said.
The district attorney said his office has adjusted by moving hearings throughout the building but that temporary fixes will not solve long-term problems. |City, county courts closed for days due to facility issues at 201 Poplar| via ABC24
I did not read an attack on every police officer. I read criticism of a use-of-force training program Mulroy personally attended. Based on the examples he described, his disappointment was understandable. There is a difference between criticizing law enforcement as a profession and criticizing how law enforcement officers are trained. Those two things are not the same. |Opinion: Before you condemn DA Mulroy, read what he said for yourself| via Daily Memphian
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