Twenty-three Memphis leaders say the death of Tyre Nichols indicates deeper problems with the police department, and criticizes Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration. Five officers indicted in Tyre Nichols' death plead not guilty to murder Ex-SCORPION officers transferred to MPD’s Organized Crime UnitRelated stories:
All five defendants — Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; Emmitt Martin III, 30; Desmond Mills Jr., 32; and Justin Smith, 28 — posted bail within two days of being booked.
Though SCORPION already was affiliated with MPD’s larger Organized Crime Unit, all 35 of those officers were transferred to other parts of OCU.
Cars honked as organizers and community members from all walks of life — senior citizens, students and working class professionals, Black, white, Asian and Hispanic — shared their hopes for social justice, change and moving forward.
Officers found two male shooting victims. One was transported to Regional One Health in critical condition and the other was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett in non-critical condition.
Gershun Freeman’s family and their representatives are sharing new details about Freeman’s October death while in custody at the Shelby County Jail. Meanwhile, attorneys, activists and family members are calling for further action into Freeman’s case.
The Memphis Police Department hosted a wheel lock event in October 2022 at its Austin Peay Station. This giveaway is for Kia, Hyundai and Infiniti car owners only.
Sheriff Floyd Bonner announced the suspensions of Jeremy Watkins and Johntavious Bowers Wednesday, Feb. 15, effective immediately.
The data is nuanced, and it’s difficult to tell what the long-term effect might be. Related story:
Hemphill, who joined the SCORPION Unit in October 2022, had been on the unit for about three months before Tyre Nichols’ fatal encounter with him and other SCORPION officers.
Gregory Livingston is now tentatively scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 30, and he will have a bond review hearing on March 6.
The fires at three offices of Washington Credit and Tax Solutions were set Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 and one was captured on video.
Police documents suggest officers never told Tyre Nichols why he was stopped, not all their body cameras were activated during the stop and there were apparent “truthfulness violations.”
With credibility on the line for members of the Memphis Police Department’s now-disbanded SCORPION unit, attorneys anticipate mass dismissals of criminal cases filed against citizens arrested by the unit.
Memphis is re-evaluating its policing tactics, including the use of data-driven special units like SCORPION, in the wake of the Tyre Nichols death.
The municipal school district and Bartlett Police Department are working with the Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence (L.E.A.D.) program, a nationwide nonprofit focused on helping students understand the dangers of drugs and violence.
Seven officers among 29 identified SCORPION unit members had previous infractions, records show.
The appeal also called for the sixth officer identified and fired in the beating of Nichols to face criminal charges.
Memphis police officers responded to a collision at Tillman Street and Sam Cooper Boulevard that left one person injured.
The head of the union representing city firefighters defended the department’s employees in a letter to City Council members.
Gershun Freeman, 33, died after sustaining injuries during the altercation Oct. 5, 2022, while he was detained at the Shelby County Jail.
In 2022, the TBI investigated nine officer-involved shootings in Shelby County, the highest number since 2019. But at least part of the reason for the increase may stem from the District Attorney’s office.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy requested a TBI investigation into Gershun Freeman’s death on Oct. 5 while he was in the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Ave.
The Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office is reviewing all prior cases involving the five officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols.
The request is under consideration, but Hemphill has not yet been decertified.