A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Memphis and five police officers, accusing them of causing the death of Tyre Nichols. The suit alleges that the Memphis Police Department allowed the Scorpion unit to operate unchecked, using "extreme intimidation, humiliation, and violence" against its targets. It also accuses Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis of creating the Scorpion unit and being aware of its aggressive tactics, but failing to take action. The family of Tyre Nichols is seeking damages for his death, as well as punitive damages against the officers and the City of Memphis.
Posts tagged as “Carl Nichol”
A federal appeals court panel has ruled in favor of the Justice Department’s use of an obstruction charge against hundreds of defendants arrested in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The ruling affirms the department’s use of the charge and reverses a decision by a Trump appointee, but questions remain about the future of the statute and its impact on the defendants.
The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission has recommended the decertification of three former Memphis police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols. This means that they will not be able to work as law enforcement officers in Tennessee again. The commission voted to decertify the officers during a meeting on Friday, and they have 30 days to appeal the decision. The fifth former officer, Eric Kelly, was not included in the request for decertification.
At a recent Memphis City Council meeting, members expressed their dissatisfaction with the retirement of a police supervisor who was on the scene when Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by officers. The Council is investigating the circumstances of the retirement and the process of revoking the officer's certification, and is taking steps to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. The Nichols family is also calling for the termination of all officers involved and for the Memphis Police Department to be held accountable.
Joshua Isaac Nichols, son of Oklahoma City bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols, has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and armed robbery in Las Vegas, avoiding a trial and resulting in a minimum of five years in prison. Hundreds of people gathered to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the bombing, which killed 168 people. Joshua and his co-defendant, George William Moya III, face a maximum of life in prison when they are sentenced on April 16 and 19 respectively.
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a review of the Memphis Police Department in response to the death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by five officers from the now-disbanded SCORPION unit. The review will examine policies, practices, training, data and processes related to use of force, de-escalation, and other related topics. It is part of the Department of Justice's ongoing efforts to ensure police departments across the country are held accountable for their actions, and is expected to take several months to complete.
Memphis officials are set to release 20 more hours of video and records from an internal investigation into the January death of Tyre Nichols. Seven police officers have been fired and four fire department personnel have been charged in connection with the incident. The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will review the findings of the investigation and the additional video footage to make recommendations to the City Council.
Memphis City Council has passed major police reform ordinances in response to the death of Tyre Nichols, banning routine traffic stops with unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers, and releasing information regarding charges and disciplinary action taken against Memphis police and fire personnel. The ordinances were passed unanimously and Mayor Jim Strickland praised the decision, saying the city is committed to accountability and transparency. The city is also creating a civilian review board to oversee the police department.