Tyre Nichols updates: Memphis fire staff fired and 6th officer ousted after horror dashcam video released

The ambulance driver and ambulance driver who came to help Tyr Nichols after he was beaten by the police have been fired, according to the Memphis Fire Department.

EMT-Basic worker Robert Long, EMT-Advanced JaMichael Sandridge and driver Lieutenant Michelle Whitaker were all fired, according to department head Gina Sweet.

“Our investigation concluded that two ER doctors responded based on the original nature of the call. [person pepper sprayed] and the information they were given at the scene, and failed to make an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols. After their initial interaction with Mr. Nichols, they requested an ambulance. The 28th Emergency Department was dispatched at 8:46 pm, arrived at the scene at 8:55 pm, began treating the patient, and transported Mr. Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:08 pm,” Ms Sweet said in a statement. press release.

But now the very future of the unit known as SCORPION or the Street Crime Operation to restore peace to our neighborhoods is in question as lawyers and community activists call for its overhaul.

The unit of 40 officers was created in October 2021 and got off to a great start. The officers were to be divided into four teams and deal with car theft, gang-related crimes, and drug-related crimes.

Read the full story of Andrew Buncombe here:

The police are partisan actors, like everyone else in power. It is vital to take their claims with a grain of salt, writes Josh Markus:

The release of video footage of the fatal attack on Tyre Nichols vividly depicts a prolonged and brutal fatal beating that was inflicted by five officers from the Memphis Police Department.

But questions remain that the edited footage didn’t answer, most notably the alleged traffic violation that caused the cops to pull over Nichols in the first place, and what caused the cops to react so violently.

The Independent Bevan Hurley has more in his story:

This was stated by Conservative Congressman Jim Jordan in an interview with NBC News. Meet the press that he wasn’t sure if any law could stop the “evil” displayed by a police bodycam showing officers beating Tyre Nichols.

“I don’t know if there is any law that can stop the evil that we have seen,” he said in the program.

He then accused the Democrats of trying to use the legislation to deal with issues such as systematic police abuse.

“Democrats always think it’s a new law that will fix something so terrible,” he said.

Ben Crump, a lawyer representing the Tyre Nichols family, has criticized the Memphis Police Department after it was announced that a sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, had been relieved of his post in connection with police beating Mr. Nichols.

“Why did it take so long for Memphis officials to reveal Ofc. The identity of Preston Hemphill and that he was reportedly relieved of office a few weeks ago but not fired or charged yet? he tweeted. “Why did a white officer participate in a brutal attack on #TyreNichols protected and protected?

Rep. Stephen Horsford, Congressman from Nevada who is chairman of the CBC, said in a statement Sunday that the caucus is asking for a meeting with Mr. Biden “to push talks on much-needed national reforms in our justice system.” in particular the actions and conduct of our law enforcement agencies”.

Mr Horsford said Mr Nichols’ death, which was captured in a disturbing video showing him being beaten and kicked by a group of officers now facing murder charges, is “a grim reminder that we still have a long way to go.” way in solving systemic problems of the police”. violence in America.”

The Independent Andrew Feinberg has more in his story:

Preston Hemphill, the sixth Memphis cop to be disciplined for beating Tyre Nichols, reportedly shot Nichols with a stun gun on the night of the confrontation that preceded his death.

The Memphis Police Department announced that Mr. Hemphill was placed on administrative leave in connection with the collision.

According to ABC 7, he was the officer who shot Mr. Nichols with a stun gun as he tried to run from the police, who stopped him.

The country spent the weekend dealing with disturbing body camera footage showing Memphis cops beating Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop.

While the incident has become clearer through footage, prosecutors and the Memphis Police Department still haven’t answered a few questions.

The Independent Rachel Sharp explores these questions in her story below…

Memphis Police Officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly the third officer to arrive at the scene of Tyre Nichols’ beating.

Mr. Hemphill’s lawyer, Lee Gerald, confirmed to ABC 7 that his client was the third officer at Nichols’ first traffic stop.

“In accordance with departmental guidelines, Officer Hemphill activated the body camera,” Gerald said in a statement. “He never attended the second stage. He is cooperating with officials in this investigation.”

Footage from the officer’s body camera was included in footage released Friday.