MEMPHIS (AP) — The Justice Department announced Wednesday it will review the Memphis Police Department’s use-of-force policies, de-escalation policies and specialized units in response to the fatal beating of Tire Nichols during an arrest.
The review was requested by the city’s mayor and police chief, the department said. In a separate effort, it will review the use of specialized units across the country and develop guidelines for police chiefs and mayors on their use, according to the announcement.
“Following the tragic death of Tire Nichols, the Department of Justice listened to police chiefs across the country evaluate the use of specialized units and, where used, the proper management, oversight and accountability of those units,” the attorney general said. vanity. Gupta.
The US Department of Justice previously opened a civil rights investigation into Nichols’ death.
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On Wednesday, the city also plans to release about 20 hours of video and audio related to the arrest of the 29-year-old driver, who died Jan. 10, three days after his violent arrest. It will add to already public body camera footage and a surveillance camera that gave the world a detailed look at Nichols’ police beatings.
Officials have named six officers who have already been fired in the case, and five of them are now charged with second-degree murder. The five officers’ body cameras recorded them beating Nichols, handcuffing the critically injured Nichols to an unmarked police car and then ignoring him as he struggled to get up. They pleaded not guilty.
The officers were part of a specialized crime-fighting team called the Scorpion unit, which was shut down by Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis after Nichols’ death.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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