The appalling circumstances that resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols have prompted demands for better police training.

These calls remind me of when I became director of the Memphis Police Department in 1976. At the time, I inherited a department that was in violation of three federal consent decrees.

Along with the City of Philadelphia, we were under consideration for being taken over by the U.S. Department of Justice because of civil rights abuses and the use of deadly force.

More MPD officers under investigation in Nichols’ death

However, by working with the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, local civil rights groups, Black church leaders and community activists, we not only were able to come into compliance, but by the time my tenure was over in 1983, Memphis was recognized nationally as a model police department for the steps we took in police reform. The steps included the innovations we put in place in our department’s Training Academy.

While improved training for today’s MPD is never a bad thing to work toward, to say that some sort of “training” would have averted the Nichols tragedy is to miss an important point. Let’s try to imagine how the training might go.

“I have always appreciated the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department: ‘Protect and Serve.’ That slogan says perfectly in three words what the goal of every policing agency in our nation ought to strive to attain.”

Visualize an instructor at the Police Training Academy standing before the class and announcing, “Today we are going to cover how not to beat a man to death for a minor traffic infraction.”

The imaginary instructor continues, “Tomorrow we will cover not ripping off product from a drug dealer. And on Friday, if we have time, we will touch on not accepting a bribe from a speeding motorist to avoid a traffic ticket.”

The truth is, good police training covers what to do, not what not to do.

County Commission takes first steps in reaction to Tyre Nichols case

The problem with the recent deplorable event is lack of supervisory control. Police officers need to know without question what is acceptable and what is not — and that there will be constant oversight with real consequences for infractions.

I am skeptical of zero tolerance units like the just disbanded SCORPION group, of which the five police officers who’ve been charged with Nichols’ murder were members. Such special units are meant to “send a message” to criminal elements.

But without very careful control of this kind of policing, the overwhelming number of law-abiding people in the same community will receive the same frightening message: That somebody’s mother may be driving a few miles over the limit and suddenly be pulled over by a half dozen blue lights. Or that some otherwise innocent soul may be inadvertently in the wrong place at the wrong time and that’s just too bad.

Unquestionably, the level of crime in Memphis is unacceptable. But we will never be able to bring it under control by having police be meaner than the criminals.

If units such as SCORPION are to be utilized, special care must be taken in choosing the participants and their units’ activities must be closely monitored at all times.

County Commission considers better law enforcement training in wake of Nichols’ death

What is acceptable and what is not should be very clear to all involved. A supervisor should be present — or close by — and officers should know that the supervisor may appear unannounced at any time.

I have always appreciated the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department: “Protect and Serve.” That slogan says perfectly in three words what the goal of every policing agency in our nation ought to strive to attain.

However, in too many cases throughout the country, we have allowed that ideal to slip into the “Apprehend and Teach a Lesson” mindset. It’s an attitude that doesn’t only affect some officers — sometimes the more affluent members of society demand strong measures against crime through whatever means possible.

“It isn’t a matter of training. It’s a matter of discipline and control.”

But what is known in some quarters as doling out “street justice” to offenders has no place in a democratic society and cannot be tolerated. It is up to the leadership in every police department in the nation to ensure that such thinking fails to take hold.

Here is one more thing experience taught me: It may sound good to implement requirements to “intervene” and to “render aid,” but those actions will not take place until and unless individual officers can always be certain that absolute supervisory control is in place in the agency.

Analysis: A timeline of how Tyre Nichols traffic stop became violent

Furthermore, officers need to know that supervisory control will be applied promptly and fairly in all circumstances as they go about their duties as law-abiding peace officers who know right from wrong.

It isn’t a matter of training. It’s a matter of discipline and control.