(Memphis) The United States Department of Justice will review the Memphis Police Department’s use of force policies following the grueling photo arrest of Nichols that led to his death.
The mayor and city chief of police have requested this review. In a separate file, it will also consider deploying Special Intervention Teams across the country and issue a guide to police chiefs and mayors on their use.
“Following the tragic death of Tyre Nichols, the Department of Justice has heard from police chiefs across the country to assess the use of, and where appropriate, specialized units, their management and oversight,” said Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta.
The US Department of Justice has already opened a civil rights investigation in connection with Nichols’ death.
The city also plans to release about 20 hours of video and audio clips on Wednesday related to the arrest of the 29-year-old driver who died Jan. 10, three days after his violent arrest. This would add to the already public footage from the Police Corps and CCTV cameras that gave the world a detailed look at the police beating of Nichols.
Six police officers have already been fired for their role in the case, and five are now facing second-degree murder charges.
The six officers were members of the Memphis Police Department’s Scorpion Unit, a group that residents have accused of using violent tactics. After briefly receiving support from his superior following Nichols’ death, the unit is disbanded and its remaining agents are assigned to other sectors.
According to the police account, Nichols was suspected of reckless driving when he was arrested on January 7, but no documented evidence of a traffic offense has emerged in publicly available documents or video footage.
