Shelby County District Attorney’s Office Commits to Reviewing Cases Handled by Five Officers Charged in Tyre Nichols’ Killing

The Shelby County District Attorney’s office in Tennessee announced on Thursday that it will review all cases previously handled by five Memphis police officers charged in the beating and killing of Tyre Nichols. The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith, were charged last month with second-degree murder, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression in connection with the January 7 assault on Nichols.

The District Attorney, Steve Mulroy, did not specify how many cases would be reviewed, but said that it would include both closed and pending cases. The five officers were also added to the county’s list of law enforcement officers whose credibility has been questioned.

The review comes after Preston Hemphill, another of the officers involved in the traffic stop of Nichols, was fired from the Memphis Police Department last week for violating multiple department policies, including personal conduct and truthfulness. According to a decertification letter that Memphis Police sent to the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), Hemphill lied in statements to investigators about the incident. He claimed that Nichols attempted to grab his partner’s duty weapon, however there is no video footage to corroborate that statement.

The review of cases handled by the five officers is an important step in ensuring justice for Tyre Nichols and his family. The District Attorney’s office is committed to ensuring that all cases involving the officers are thoroughly reviewed and that any misconduct is addressed. It is also a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions.