Christian Gooden recently released an official statement from his Community Outreach Facebook page regarding the arrest of Brianna Erwin by Tyler Police Dept. The internal investigation, and Erwin’s case are currently ongoing. Full text of Mr. Gooden’s release follows below.

Yes, I have been getting calls and texts about an issue with a citizen and the Tyler Police Department. Though I did not win my City Council race, I am still active and very much so involved in community like I said I would be because I ran on “Being A Community”

So in light of the recent events involving the Tyler Police Department and the assault of a Black woman during an encounter with law enforcement, I want to first and foremost express my concern and commitment to justice, accountability, and the fair treatment of every member of our community.

I want to be clear, I stand with the Tyler Police Department. I recognize and appreciate the difficult and often dangerous work that our officers do to protect and serve our city. However, standing with the department does not mean standing with those who fail to uphold the standards of professionalism, respect, and integrity that our community rightfully expects.

The actions of the officers involved in this particular incident are deeply troubling. We cannot allow one bad apple to poison the entire tree. What happened demands scrutiny, not just to ensure justice for the individual affected, but also to reaffirm the trust between law enforcement and the people they serve.

This incident also raises important questions—most notably, the use of excessive force and the handling of encounters involving women. In a situation involving a female individual, why was there not a female officer present to help de-escalate the encounter? This is not just a matter of optics; it’s a matter of proper protocol and community-sensitive policing.

I am hopeful that our new administration will address this situation with the seriousness it deserves, and I trust that a thorough investigation will be conducted. We must demand answers and, where appropriate, accountability. That is how we strengthen our institutions—not by ignoring wrongdoing, but by confronting it and ensuring it is not repeated.

Our community deserves nothing less.

Sincerely,
Christian Gooden
Christian Gooden Community Outreach