MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A sixth Memphis Police Department officer has been disciplined for his involvement within the brutal beating and arrest of Tyre Nichols, a division spokeswoman stated Monday.
Officer Preston Hemphill was relieved of obligation shortly after the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died three days later at a hospital, Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph stated. She didn’t disclose Hemphill’s function within the arrest.
Rudolph stated data on disciplinary motion taken in opposition to Hemphill was not instantly launched as a result of Hemphill was not fired and the division sometimes releases details about officers who’re relieved of obligation after an investigation ends.
Nichols’ household and others carefully watching developments surrounding his brutal arrest and killing in Memphis had been awaiting phrase of further disciplinary motion in opposition to officers who had been on the scene however haven’t been fired or charged.
Highly anticipated video footage launched Friday confirmed 5 Memphis Police Department officers utilizing a stun gun, a baton and their fists as they pummeled Nichols throughout a nighttime arrest Jan. 7 after he was pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving. Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was heard calling for his mom and seen struggling along with his accidents as he sat helpless on the pavement. He died at a hospital three days later.
The 5 officers have been fired and charged with second-degree homicide and different alleged offenses stemming from the arrest, which has shocked many for its brutality and revived requires police reform across the nation.
Memphis police and the Shelby County district lawyer have stated an investigation into the actions of regulation enforcement officers who reported to the scene of the arrest was ongoing. A Memphis police spokeswoman stated Monday that data shall be launched when it turns into out there.
In addition to the 5 officers, who chatted and milled about for a number of minutes as Nichols sat on on the bottom in apparent ache, two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies have been relieved of obligation with out pay whereas their conduct is investigated. And, two Mermphis Fire Department division staff had been additionally faraway from obligation over Nichols’ arrest.
But the video confirmed different officers who additionally responded to the scene. Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis has not stated if an officer who was concerned within the preliminary visitors and might be heard saying, “I hope they stomp his ass” as Nichols ran away has been disciplined.
Calls for extra officers to be fired or charged have been loud and protracted from the Nichols household, their legal professionals and neighborhood activists who’ve peacefully protested in Memphis because the video was launched. The video was evocative of the arrest of George Floyd in 2020 and officers’ failure to intervene.
On Saturday, Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, advised The Associated Press that the household was going to “continue to seek justice and get some more officers arrested.”
“Questions were raised before the video was released, I raised those questions,” Wells stated. “I just felt there was more than five officers out there. Now, five were charged with murder because they were the main participants, but there were five or six other officers out there that didn’t do anything to render any aid. So they are just as culpable as the officers who threw the blows.”
Memphis City Council member Martavius Jones stated he watched the video with colleagues on Friday. He acknowledged Monday that Memphis police insurance policies of failure to render help and de-escalation appeared to have been violated.
“When everybody saw the video, we see that you have multiple officers just standing around, when Mr. Nichols is in distress, that just paints a totally different picture,” Jones stated
Jones stated he believes extra officers needs to be disciplined.
“At this point, what’s going to be helpful for this community is to see ow swiftly the police chief deals with those other officers now that everybody has seen the tape and knows that is wasn’t only five officers who were at the scene the entire time,” Jones stated.
The 5 fired officers had been a part of the so-called Scorpion unit, which focused violent criminals in sure areas. Davis, the police chief, stated Saturday that the unit has been disbanded.
Nichols’ funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday at a Memphis church.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
