There are 782 article(s) tagged Memphis Police Department:
An analysis of the personnel records of the five officers included mainly procedural violations, car accidents and accidental damage of department equipment for four of the officers.
The initial information released by police in the Tyre Nichols case differed significantly in some respects from what was shown on video footage released to the public last week.
A seventh Memphis Police officer under investigation and off the job is not identified. But police brass say he and officer Preston Hemphill have been relieved of duty since the day after Tyre Nichols was beaten by police in southeast Memphis.
The Memphis Police Department confirmed Monday, Jan. 30, that Officer Preston Hemphill has been relieved of duty and it plans “to have additional information to share ... once it becomes available.”
The Daily Memphian analyzed the earliest available footage of the Nichols traffic stop in detail, creating a moment-by-moment timeline of the Memphis Police Department officers’ increasingly aggressive responses, even as Nichols himself remains calm and compliant.
One protester said local activists will keep protesting until all the officers involved in the events that lead to Tyre Nichols’ death have been identified.
MPD released a tweet Saturday that said: “In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders and the uninvolved officers ... it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit.”
Protesters blocked the I-55 bridge for hours. Traffic was backed up as far as I-40 and Elvis Presley Boulevard. By 10 p.m., traffic was moving again on I-55. Some protesters returned to Martyrs Park.
These videos contain content that may be upsetting to sensitive viewers. In the footage, Nichols can been seen being restrained, beaten, Tasered and pepper sprayed by MPD officers.
“While each of the five individuals played a different role in the incident in question, the actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols and they are all responsible,” Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy said.
MPD’s Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis talked to The Daily Memphian about why they are releasing the video footage Friday evening, whether the National Guard will be brought in and how she thinks these latest events will affect recruiting. Earlier in the day, she also discussed the fire department’s role in Nichols’ death.
In a recorded statement released late Wednesday evening, Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis said other MPD officers, besides the five already fired last week for violating department policies in Tyre Nichols’ death, are under investigation.
Retired Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe, executive director of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, sent a letter to Jonathan Thompson, executive director and CEO of the National Sheriff’s Association, and the letter was obtained by WVTF-TV Channel 5 in Nashville.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said he hired the same pathologist in this case as he did in the case of George Floyd, whose family he also represented. Memphis City Council looks at police reforms in wake of Tyre Nichols’ deathRelated coverage:
A TikTok user has drawn attention to a possible connection between six murders in the Westwood area. Raines Station police addressed each one.
“What we saw, regrettably it reminded us of the Rodney King video,” attorney Ben Crump said. “Unlike Rodney King, Tyre didn’t survive.” Officer involved in Tyre Nichols’ death previously accused of brutality Two MFD personnel relieved of duty after Tyre Nichols incidentRelated story:
The former Memphis police officer was one of five MPD officers who faced disciplinary action and later fired following a Saturday, Jan. 7, traffic stop that led to the death of Nichols, 29, three days later.
The investigation concluded they violated multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid. Related story:
A definitive date has not been given, but the city said in a statement earlier this week that the footage would not be released until Nichols’ family meets with officials for a private viewing.
The United States Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI Memphis Field Office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols.
About 50 people, including family, friends and coworkers, attended the memorial service for Nichols at M.J. Edwards Funeral Home on the edge of Orange Mound. City pledges to release Nichols incident police body cam footage next weekRelated story:
“Capturing a suspect is important. However, the safety of innocent bystanders and motorists is paramount,” MPD says in response to officer’s concerns about limitations during vehicle pursuit.
An MPD officer says the department’s policies leave many officers demoralized and frustrated – and lets criminals get away with crime too often.
Tyre D. Nichols, 29, was injured following a confrontation with officers around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, near Raines and Ross roads in southeast Memphis.
Gender issues complicate the reporting of cold cases for transgender victims, but a Shelby County initiative offers hope to families.Related story: