DeKalb spokeswoman calls CEO shooting ‘murder,' angers local police

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Expressing her outrage, DeKalb County’s chief communications officer said New Jersey police “murdered” a Gwinnett County CEO, who was shot and killed by deputies in Newark.

Shelia Edwards, spokeswoman for CEO Burrell Ellis, on Wednesday took issue with the recent death of DeFarra "Dean" Gaymon -- which has not led to any criminal charges yet -- and said she has volunteered to represent the family of the slain man.

“Dean Gaymon was a college classmate and a close personal friend of over 30 years," Edwards wrote to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "His family has been a part of my family since the 80s. We are all traumatized by [his] murder.”

Essex County (N.J.) deputies said they shot and killed Gaymon, CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, after he allegedly attacked an undercover detective on Friday. Prosecutors said the officer saw Gaymon engaged in a public sex act and that he tried to solicit sex from the officer.

Gaymon’s family, through Edwards, has denied those allegations.

The indicting statement by Edwards -- who often speaks on behalf of DeKalb County police -- had her local officers questioning why she would label the shooting a murder in advance of any criminal charges or grand jury review.

Officers, fearful of losing their jobs because of Edwards’ high position in the government and unwilling to be identified, told the AJC it was a conflict on interest for the communications chief to serve as the family’s spokeswoman.

“Whose side is she on? Does she hate police?” one officer asked. “It’s going to be hard for us to trust that she is objective and can speak about investigations.”

Another DeKalb officer said Edwards now might be inclined to judge local officers who are involved in a police shooting before an investigation is complete.

Jeff Wiggs, DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police president, declined to comment until all the facts of the incident are known.

Edwards insisted there was no conflict of interest and that she was not being paid by the family.

“This matter in no way involves the DeKalb County Police Department, no law enforcement agency of DeKalb County and none in the state of Georgia,” Edwards wrote in an e-mail. “As for calling this a murder, this is a direct quote from the statement from the family. I am quite aware that there has been no official determination at this point.”

Edwards, who makes $138,000, reports directly to the CEO. It was unclear if she received approval from Ellis prior to speaking to media about the Gaymon shooting. Edwards’ personal e-mail address was listed on statements attributed to the family and she has been quoted in media accounts across the country about the shooting. Ellis was unavailable for comment.