Local
Posted: Oct 10, 2025 / 01:14 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 10, 2025 / 06:08 PM CDT
SHARE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WREG has obtained more video showing further details of what happened in the Shelby County courthouse before General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer’s heated confrontation with deputies.
Sen. Brent Taylor and others released body camera video Thursday that showed the exchange between Sawyer and deputies, after her personal security guard apparently entered the building with a gun on Oct. 7.
WREG is now reviewing the full video, which shows a man inside the building who tells deputies he is Sawyer’s personal security. Deputies removed the weapon from a holster on his waist and told him weapons were not allowed inside.
“You just walked inside of a county building with a gun. You are not to be in this building with a gun. You are about to be arrested,” a deputy told the man, who said he understood.
The man, who said he is with law enforcement in Mississippi, said he had been allowed to walk into the courthouse with a weapon and did not think there would be a problem, because a sheriff’s department official was aware of his presence. Sawyer was with him, he said.
Sawyer appears later in the second video when she came outside to the courthouse steps and spoke to the man and to the deputies.
A deputy went to retrieve her when she walked back inside the building. Sawyer came back outside and said she was receiving death threats. She told one of the deputies present, “Watch who you’re talking to.”
Body camera video shows a gun taken from the holster of a man who told deputies he is private security for Tami Sawyer, inside the Shelby County courthouse.
That is when the exchange posted by Sen. Taylor began.
Play Video
The Republican Party of Shelby County is calling on Sawyer to resign immediately or face recall, alleging her behavior toward the deputy “is wholly inappropriate and incompatible with public
office.”
Sawyer responds after GOP calls for her to resign over video
Sawyer, in a Facebook post, defended her need for security and said she had followed all county rules and notified county officials.
“This is not my first rodeo, but this is my life. Because of this, I have employed private security for the interim. This decision was made in compliance with all county rules and included notifying the County Mayor, County Attorney, and the Sheriff of their presence. There was no attempt to smuggle a gun into the office by an unlicensed individual, but rather a security personnel who I hired to be my eyes and ears as I continue the work I’ve been elected to do as the court clerk,” Sawyer stated.
WREG reached out to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for information about the incident, and were told they are looking into it and will get back to us.
Taylor said in a Facebook post Friday that he stands by his assertion that Sawyer holds animosity toward police, and should resign. The senator said he is working at the state level to establish a disciplinary board for court clerks.
“I’ve called on her to resign. Look, I’m smart enough to know she ain’t going to resign, but she needs to be held accountable for her actions,” Taylor stated.
Videos show more of Sawyer’s confrontation at courthouse
by: David Royer, Raven CopelandPosted: Oct 10, 2025 / 01:14 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 10, 2025 / 06:08 PM CDT
SHARE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WREG has obtained more video showing further details of what happened in the Shelby County courthouse before General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer’s heated confrontation with deputies.
Sen. Brent Taylor and others released body camera video Thursday that showed the exchange between Sawyer and deputies, after her personal security guard apparently entered the building with a gun on Oct. 7.
WREG is now reviewing the full video, which shows a man inside the building who tells deputies he is Sawyer’s personal security. Deputies removed the weapon from a holster on his waist and told him weapons were not allowed inside.
“You just walked inside of a county building with a gun. You are not to be in this building with a gun. You are about to be arrested,” a deputy told the man, who said he understood.
The man, who said he is with law enforcement in Mississippi, said he had been allowed to walk into the courthouse with a weapon and did not think there would be a problem, because a sheriff’s department official was aware of his presence. Sawyer was with him, he said.
Tami Sawyer courthouse video 1 of 2
Mute
Current Time 15:13
/Current Time 15:13
Duration 29:59
Captions
FullscreenSharePlayCaptions
Sawyer appears later in the second video when she came outside to the courthouse steps and spoke to the man and to the deputies.
A deputy went to retrieve her when she walked back inside the building. Sawyer came back outside and said she was receiving death threats. She told one of the deputies present, “Watch who you’re talking to.”
Body camera video shows a gun taken from the holster of a man who told deputies he is private security for Tami Sawyer, inside the Shelby County courthouse.
That is when the exchange posted by Sen. Taylor began.
Play Video
Tami Sawyer video via Brent Taylor
The Republican Party of Shelby County is calling on Sawyer to resign immediately or face recall, alleging her behavior toward the deputy “is wholly inappropriate and incompatible with public
office.”
Sawyer responds after GOP calls for her to resign over video
Sawyer, in a Facebook post, defended her need for security and said she had followed all county rules and notified county officials.
“This is not my first rodeo, but this is my life. Because of this, I have employed private security for the interim. This decision was made in compliance with all county rules and included notifying the County Mayor, County Attorney, and the Sheriff of their presence. There was no attempt to smuggle a gun into the office by an unlicensed individual, but rather a security personnel who I hired to be my eyes and ears as I continue the work I’ve been elected to do as the court clerk,” Sawyer stated.
WREG reached out to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for information about the incident, and were told they are looking into it and will get back to us.
Taylor said in a Facebook post Friday that he stands by his assertion that Sawyer holds animosity toward police, and should resign. The senator said he is working at the state level to establish a disciplinary board for court clerks.
“I’ve called on her to resign. Look, I’m smart enough to know she ain’t going to resign, but she needs to be held accountable for her actions,” Taylor stated.
