Department of Justice to Review Memphis Police Department in Response to Death of Tyre Nichols

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it will review the Memphis Police Department, including its use of force and de-escalation tactics, in response to the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols died after being beaten by five officers from the now-disbanded SCORPION unit of the Memphis Police Department.

The review was requested by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis. The Department of Justice will examine policies, practices, training, data and processes related to use of force, de-escalation, and other related topics.

Police video from multiple angles showed Memphis police officers hitting 29-year-old Nichols in the face, kicking him and striking him with a baton following a traffic stop for alleged reckless driving Jan. 7. More than a dozen Memphis fire and police department employees have been charged in connection with the beating, and Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis has said her office has found no proof to substantiate the claim of reckless driving.

The review of the Memphis Police Department is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to ensure that police departments across the country are held accountable for their actions. The Department of Justice has previously conducted reviews of police departments in cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, and Ferguson, Missouri.

The review of the Memphis Police Department is expected to take several months to complete. The Department of Justice has not yet released any details on the scope of the review or the timeline for its completion.