Two other Memphis police officers have been disciplined and three paramedics have been fired in connection with the death of Tyra Nichols, officials said Monday. That brings the total number of disciplined officers to seven, including five black officers who were fired last week and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in Nichols’ Jan. 10 beating and death.
Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, has been relieved of duty and placed on what is known as administrative leave, Memphis Police Maj. Karen Rudolph said Monday, according to multiple reports.
Later that day, it was reported that another officer was also freed, but without naming the person or specifying what role she played in the incident.
Rudolph paused to say what role Hemphill had at the scene of Nichols’ fatal beating or whether he would face criminal charges in connection with the killing, as several other officers have. But Rudolph said the investigation into Nichols’ death was ongoing and “more information will be shared as it develops.” The police said in a statement that all seven officers were dismissed from duty on January 8.
Also Monday, fire department officials announced the firings of emergency medical technicians Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge and Lt. Michelle Whitaker in connection with Nichols’ death.
Fire Chief Gina Sweat said in a statement that the department received a call from police to respond to a report of a person being pepper-sprayed, and workers arrived as Nichols was handcuffed and leaning against a police car. . Long and Sandridge, based on the nature of the call and the information provided to them by police, “failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols,” the statement said. Whitaker and the driver remained in the vehicle.
The investigation found that the three violated “multiple” policies and protocols, the statement said.
Hemphill was the third officer in the traffic stop that preceded the violent arrest, but was not at the scene where Nichols was beaten, said his attorney, Lee Gerald.
Attorneys for Nichols’ family questioned Monday why the department didn’t make public the disciplinary action against Hemphill earlier and why he wasn’t fired or charged.
“From the beginning, we have asked that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community – this report seems to indicate that they have not risen to the occasion,” said Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. “It certainly raises the question of why the white officer involved in this brutal attack was shielded and shielded from the public eye and to this day from sufficient discipline and accountability.”
News of the additional officer removals comes as calls for change in America’s police force intensify following Nichols’ death.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford said the group of 60 members of Congress requested a meeting with the president this week to “advance a conversation on much-needed national reforms to our justice system — specifically, actions and behaviors.” our law enforcement agencies”.
The call to Biden, who urged Congress to pass police reforms, came as protests sparked by Nichols’ killing continued in Memphis over the weekend.
Nichols, who was Black, died Jan. 10, three days after Memphis police officers beat him following a traffic stop. Nichols’ parents, who were invited to attend Biden’s State of the Union address on February 7, said the 29-year-old was driving home after photographing the sunset.
