The U.S. Department of Justice brought federal criminal charges against the five former Memphis Police Department officers who are already charged in state court with the death of Tyre Nichols. The DOJ indicted the five men on two counts of depriving civil rights and two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or an informant. The first two of the four counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The latter two counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years. All five of the former cops pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Memphis continues moving toward Election Day with the polls officially opening to voters last week. On Friday, Sept. 15, the first day of early voting, 3,280 Memphians cast ballots; early voting continues through Saturday, Sept. 30, in advance of the Thursday, Oct. 5, Election Day. Find links to all of The Daily Memphian’s coverage on our Elections page.

Also chapter four in The Daily Memphian’s busing series looks at the end of the effort’s first year and lead judicial commissioner John Marshall answers a sweeping set of questions.

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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“Effective policing requires public trust,” said Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

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