Police in Memphis, Tennessee responded to a call of a gunman firing outside a Hebrew school on Monday, and were able to track the suspect to a nearby town where they conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, the suspect was shot by an officer and is currently in critical condition. No other injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing.
Posts tagged as “The Memphis Police Department”
The Department of Justice has announced an investigation into the Memphis Police Department for alleged discriminatory policing and civil rights violations. This is part of a broader "patterns and practices" review, and the family of Tyre Nichols, who was killed by police earlier this year, has expressed gratitude for the investigation. The DOJ has not provided a timeline for when the investigation will be complete.
Former LSU basketball player Danielle Ballard tragically died after being struck by a vehicle in Memphis, Tennessee. She was a two-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-Defensive team selection for the Lady Tigers and was remembered by the university as a “standout basketball player” and a “big part of the women’s basketball family.” The Memphis Police Department is still investigating the incident.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Tuesday that former Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill, who used a stun gun on Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop that preceded his fatal beating by other officers, will not face criminal charges. An internal investigation found that Hemphill violated multiple department policies, and the District Attorney's office is continuing to investigate the other officers involved in the incident.
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.
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.
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.