DOJ to review Memphis Police Department’s ‘special units and use of force policies’ after Tire Nichols’ death
The Justice Department will review the Memphis police force after several officers were fired and charged with murder in the death of Tire Nichols last month, Mayor Jim Strickland said.
“The independent, external review by these agencies will include an assessment of the MPD’s special units and use-of-force policies,” Strickland wrote in a bulletin Friday.
“While we undoubtedly have a long way to go on the road to recovery, we hope that through our actions, citizens will see that we are working to be better and that we are heading in the right direction.”
Surveillance video shows the brutal arrest of Tire Nichols by members of the Memphis Police Department’s former SCORPION unit.
(City of Memphis via AP, file)
The five officers charged with murder in the Jan. 7 killing of Nichols were members of the department’s SCORPION unit, which was launched in November 2021 to patrol high-crime areas.
TIRE NICHOLS VIDEO: MEMPHIS AUTHORITIES RELEASE IMAGES OF DEADLY TRAFFIC STOP
The specialist unit was disbanded after body camera footage of Nichols’ brutal arrest on January 28 emerged.
These five officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – were fired and charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault and other counts.
Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 18 for their roles in the arrest of the late Tire Nichols.
(Memphis Police Department)
A sixth officer involved in the arrest, Preston Hemphill, was fired Friday for violating multiple departmental policies, police say.
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Three Memphis fire paramedics were also fired following investigations into Nichols’ death.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday about their review.
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