Former Tennessee police officer jailed over Charlie Kirk meme awarded settlement
Former Perry County, Tennessee, police officer Larry Johnson has been awarded an undisclosed settlement after his contentious legal battle stemming from a 2020 Facebook post. Johnson, who retired in 2021, was initially disciplined and later jailed for contempt of court—not directly for the meme itself, but for issues arising during subsequent legal proceedings. The viral meme in question featured conservative activist Charlie Kirk alongside a quote misattributed to then-President Donald Trump, criticizing the trustworthiness of police. Johnson's initial suspension and the ensuing litigation centered on allegations of First Amendment violations, specifically concerning public employees' freedom of speech on social media.














