bridges mcrae – Memphis Flyer

Bridges McRae

Former Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison and two years of supervised release for violating the rights of Duanna Johnson and for tax evasion.

In 2008, McRae was videotaped beating Johnson, a transgender woman, over the head inside the booking area at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Complex. Johnson, who was murdered later that year in a seemingly-unrelated incident, told media that McRae called her “he/she” and “faggot.”

McRae also evaded his federal income taxes from 2004 to 2008 by providing the City of Memphis a W-4 form that claimed he had 99 dependents. As a result, the city did not hold any taxes out of his paycheck.

Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae, who was videotaped beating transgendered suspect Duanna Johnson, was terminated yesterday afternoon following an administrative hearing. McRae was charged with “use of excessive force.”

McRae had been placed on desk duty pending an investigation after the incident happened in February. James Swain, the officer who held Johnson down during the beating, was fired immediately.

A coalition was formed in response to the incident to prevent further police brutality against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. The group met Monday night to form an action plan, which included establishing a gay liaison in the police department and demanding sensitivity training for police.

For more, see Bianca Phillips’ story from the Flyer.