Prominent leaders of the Memphis Black community are calling for legislative action in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols.

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. 

As public officials expressed outrage about Tyre Nichols’ death online, the protests marking the release of the videos returned to the symbol of local protest in the age of Black Lives Matter — the bridges across the Mississippi River.

The Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit, which MPD announced Saturday is being disbanded, is reminiscent of a controversial defunct unit in Atlanta over which MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis was once in charge. 

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Proposals include keeping data on police traffic stops and renewing plans to increase police training. 

The council votes on the Memphis in May measure at its first meeting in February. The council delayed several other matters, including a possible new name for Audubon Park and a decision on the Dream Hotel. 

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Police reports indicate at least 19 vehicles were broken into over the weekend, during one of the center’s first big events. 

“What we’re doing here is asking them to initiate those same interventions that they’re putting in their other sites across the country and not wait for the EPA,” said Memphis City Council member Jeff Warren.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis, who generally attends the council’s biweekly public safety committee, was not present for the Tuesday, Jan. 24, morning meeting.

The identity of the personnel or the reason for investigating was not disclosed. The announcement follows news from the Memphis Police Department that they fired the five officers involved in the fatal attempted arrest of Nichols.

“What we saw, regrettably it reminded us of the Rodney King video,” attorney Ben Crump said. “Unlike Rodney King, Tyre didn’t survive.”

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Vincent Astor, who many considered the unofficial LGBTQ historian for the Mid-South, died on Monday, Jan. 16. Astor spent his life advocating for and raising awareness for the LGBTQ community in Memphis.

During a MLGW board meeting Wednesday, CEO Doug McGowen indicated that load forecasting would be part of the TVA review, “because there were some real issues to talk about there.”

The effort will comprehensively map the condition of all 6,714 lane miles of Memphis’ streets.

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.

Amendments to animal welfare laws could include mandatory microchipping for pets, and modification to policies about dogs “running at large,” which animal welfare organizations see as key to stopping overpopulation and neglect.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure. 

An industry group estimates there are 250,000 to 300,000 water main breaks in the U.S. every year — generating an estimated loss of 6 billion gallons of treated drinking water across the country.

The council vote comes the day after the Shelby County Commission approved the same resolution. The funding is spread across four projects, including new affordable housing in Uptown and rehab of existing homes for legacy homeowners.

The review comes partly in response to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division’s decision not to apply for $109 million worth of water infrastructure grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen said Tuesday that the utility had to double the amount of water it pumped from the Memphis Aquifer because of fire protection systems and water mains breaking. 

The council approved the changes in the first of three votes on the ordinance Tuesday, Jan. 10. The changes are part of a larger group of animal ordinance amendments.

“I think the myth of TVA’s invincibility has been shown here, and I think we need to remember that as we try to figure out where we’re going to go as a system,” Memphis City Council member Jeff Warren said. 

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