MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After Memphis police fatally shot 39-year-old Freeman Sherman Jr., who they say was wielding a knife, while they were responding to a domestic violence call early Friday morning, questions about use of force training have come to the surface.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), two officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing May 10, 2024, just after 3 a.m. in the 3000 block of Dumbarton Road.
"I wondered if there were any policemen left in Memphis because they were all on my street," longtime Raleigh resident Ann McCormick said.
When officers arrived, they determined a man was armed with several knives in an upstairs bedroom. As officers moved up toward the suspect, he swung a knife at them, causing one officer to fall down the stairs. In response, the second officer shot the suspect, who later died. TBI later identified the man as 39-year-old Freeman Sherman Jr.
"For years and years now, police have been trained on what they call response to 'edge weapons,' which means knives, broken bottles, pencils, pens - things that can really, really harm you," law enforcement expert and former Shelby County Sheriff's Captain Bennie Cobb said Friday.
Cobb said training for situations like this varies. But the general guidance taught to law enforcement is what’s called the “21-foot drill."
“People tend to take knives for granted," Cobb said. “I am a certified active shooter instructor but, knowing how available knives are, we have adapted all training for active shooters and [responding] to violent incidents to include knives, broken bottles - edge weapons. You’re going to bleed out; veins and arteries, of course, the jugular, and on your inner thigh."
21 feet is the distance someone with a knife or similar object running toward the police can cover before officers remove their guns from their holsters and fire.
Cobb said in domestic violence situations involving knives. the use of less lethal weapons such as a Taser isn’t a common practice.
Memphis Police did confirm that for the city's department, the 21-foot drill is just general guidance for an officer to remember and not necessarily a requirement.