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Sheriff suspends units, focuses on jail
Tyriana Ledbetter, a mentally ill 20-year-old inmate at Fulton County’s Rice Street Jail, lies in critical condition after a brutal cell attack allegedly by another inmate. In response, Sheriff Patrick Labat has suspended all unit assignments and redirected personnel exclusively to the jail. Leadership changes and mounting pressure from county commissioners and civil rights advocates signal a deep institutional shake-up.
ATLANTA - Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat is pushing back against reports that his office suspended all law enforcement units and reassigned personnel to the troubled Rice Street Jail after an inmate assault that left 20-year-old Tyrianna Ledbetter on life support.
The backstory:
Ledbetter, who suffers from mental illness, was attacked by another inmate, Shania White, last month. She remains in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital, her mother told FOX 5. White’s family has also said she struggles with mental health challenges.
What they're saying:
In the wake of the assault, county leaders expressed frustration about communication from the sheriff’s office. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said neither he nor other officials had been briefed by the sheriff, noting that in past administrations, leaders were notified immediately when incidents occurred at the jail.
Pitts also raised concerns about the reassignment of Chief Jailer Col. Jarrett Gorlin, who now oversees the Drone First Responder Program part-time. "I just find it strange that the chief jailer, for a jail as important as the Fulton County Jail, would not have a permanent full-time county employee in that position," Pitts said.
The other side:
But Sheriff Labat said media reports have mischaracterized the situation. In a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta, he said the Oct. 4 memorandum was not a new directive but a reaffirmation of a June 13 policy requiring deputies to split their time between jail duties and civil service work.
He also disputed claims of a leadership shake-up, saying Gorlin’s reassignment was part of the agency’s broader technology modernization strategy. Labat emphasized that the personnel changes were not a response to the attack on Ledbetter.
"The October 4 memorandum was issued to reinforce existing directives and is not a reactive measure," Labat said. "The two are completely unrelated."
The sheriff further criticized what he called "inflammatory" language used in earlier reports, saying the incident remains an alleged inmate-on-inmate assault under investigation. He maintained that his office is committed to transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, Pitts said the federal monitor assigned to the Fulton County Jail is in Atlanta this week and will play an active role in reviewing conditions at the facility.
PREVIOUSLY:
- Fulton County Jail ignored warnings about inmate's mental health before attack, family says
- Civil rights activist joins family's call for justice in Fulton County Jail assault case
- Fulton County inmate charged for allegedly attacking another inmate
- 20-year-old inmate injured at Fulton County Jail amid federal oversight
The Source: Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts spoke with FOX 5 for this article. The above story has been updated to include statements sent by Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat.