Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis has ordered an investigation of all specialized police units, as she said that more police officers are under investigation than the five who were fired following the death of Tyre Nichols.

Terminated MPD officers were part of SCORPION unit

“Those five officers and others failed our community,” Davis said in a recorded statement released Wednesday, Jan. 25, adding, “This is not just a professional failing, this is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual.”

This is the first time any mention has been made that additional police officers — besides the five officers fired Jan. 20 — are under investigation for violating department policies in the death of Tyre Nichols.

“I have met with and offered condolences to Tyre’s mother and father and have asked for the support of our community leaders and clergy in this extremely difficult moment,” Davis said. “But words are only temporary salves that need to be followed by true, responsible action and change.”

Davis also addressed the reactions and possible protests many citizens and government officials in the city are expecting. “I expect our citizens to exercise their First Amendment right to protest, to demand action and results,” Davis said. “But we need to ensure our community is safe in this process. None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or against our citizens.”

Davis also once again previewed the violent and disturbing incident that will be shown on the video. “This incident was henious, reckless and inhumane,” Davis said. “When the video is released in the coming days, you will see this for yourselves.”

She added, “What comes next will be our defining moment.”

Report suggests footage of Tyre Nichols arrest could come Friday

The five officers fired were all members of the MPD’s SCORPION unit, and believed to be working as part of the unit when they stopped Nichols for alleged reckless driving earlier this month.

Davis created the unit to focus police resources and respond to reckless driving and drag racing on city streets.

In the video statement released by the city at 10:30 Wednesday evening, Davis said police bodycam video is to be released in a few days. But she gave no specific time for its release.

Two Memphis Fire Department personnel involved in the “initial patient care” of Tyre Nichols have been relieved of duty pending an internal investigation, MFD announced earlier this week. The identity of the personnel or the reason for the investigation were not disclosed.

The SCORPION unit, which stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods, launched in November 2021, five months after Davis was sworn in as police chief. It identifies upticks in motor vehicle thefts and violent crime and then targets those areas with patrolling SCORPION officers.

It is comprised of three teams — a crime suppression team, an auto theft task force and a gang unit team. It operates seven days a week.

Discussing SCORPION in a January 2022 address, Memphis Mayor Strickland Strickland said the unit of “four, 10-man teams” had made 566 arrests in its first three months alone, seizing more than “$103,000 in cash, 270 vehicles and 253 weapons.”

The mayor said then that the unit targets homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies and carjackings.

Demetrius Haley, one of the five officers fired on Friday, Jan. 20, was previously accused of brutality when he was a corrections officer at the Shelby County Division of Corrections in 2015.

The other officers who were fired Friday are Haley Tadarrius Bean, both hired in August 2020; Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, both hired in March 2018; and Desmond Mills Jr., hired in March 2017.

Criminal charges have not been filed on these officers; any potential criminal charges would come from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

Other units formed since Davis joined MPD include the Fugitive Unit and the Auto Theft Task Force.

Nichols, 29, was stopped by Memphis Police officers Jan. 7 near the intersection of Raines and Ross Roads in southeast Memphis. He died on Jan. 10 from injuries sustained in the incident.

Following Nichols’ deadly interaction with police, MPD initially said officers were attempting to stop Nichols for reckless driving. A tweet from MPD stated there was a “confrontation” as officers approached Nichols, and that he fled on foot. They caught up to Nichols, and there was another confrontation before he was in police custody.

Nichols complained of shortness of breath, an ambulance was called, and Nichols was transported to Saint Francis Hospital in critical condition.

The full transcript of Davis’ statement is included below.