Pope Francis has opened a meeting on the future of the Catholic Church with a call for "everyone" to be allowed in, and has removed Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, a vocal critic of the pontiff, as a sign of his commitment to creating a more open and inclusive church. The meeting is expected to last several days and will involve discussions on a wide range of topics, with the hope of creating a more unified and inclusive church.
Posts tagged as “Jim Strickland”
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 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.
Five former Memphis police officers have been indicted on second-degree murder charges in connection to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. The indictment follows the family's viewing of police body camera footage of the incident, which they described as "heinous, reckless and inhumane". The officers were part of the SCORPION unit, a recently created unit championed by Mayor Jim Strickland, which has been met with criticism for its alleged ineffectiveness in reducing crime and increase in police brutality. The Memphis Police Department has yet to comment on the indictment and the body camera footage of the incident has yet to be released.