The Shelby County Sheriff calls the arming of the jail response team with electric pulse shields inside 201 poplars a “regrettable mistake.”
This happened after the Sheriff’s Office said protesters got into the jail annex then created a security threat for civilian employees.
The Sheriff’s Office said it plans on making a policy change even though the team never used the shields against the protesters.
In a statement, SCSO said from now on, the shields will not be shown or allowed outside of the jail in places like the annex.
Protesters said it’s the right move because there have only been peaceful protests in Memphis.
“They are scary looking and once again I think that’s the point, to chill our 1st Amendment-protected rights,” said activist Hunter Demster.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, protesters entered the jail annex, creating a disturbance and a security threat for the civilian employees.
The Jail Detention Response Team arrived with electric pulse shields to help with security.
The Sheriff’s office released a statement that said Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. said this is a regrettable mistake. He goes on to say he will change policy to prohibit the shields from being displayed or used outside the jail again.