Three members of the Memphis, Tennessee, fire department were fired Monday after an investigation into the death of Tire Nichols revealed they “failed to conduct a proper assessment of the victim,” according to the fire marshal.
The announcement comes just days after five former Memphis Police Department officers – Desmond Mills, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin, Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley – were charged in Nichols’ death. The five officers were fired on January 18 and now face charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault, official oppression, aggravated kidnapping and official misconduct.
Three members of the Memphis Fire Department were fired Monday for failing to “perform a proper assessment of the patient” on Tire Nichols.
(Memphis Fire Department)
Memphis authorities released four videos of the incident on the night of January 7, when police pulled over 29-year-old Nichols in traffic.
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The traffic stop began shortly after 8:00 p.m. and body camera footage released last week shows officers approaching Nichols and ordering him out of the car while using profanity.
At 8:24 p.m., several officers are seen forcibly grabbing Nichols to comply with the requests, leading him to point out that the officers were acting out of character.
The footage showed the violent encounter between the five officers and Nichols, who spent three days in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
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The Fire Department was dispatched to the scene around 8:30 p.m. to respond to a person who had been pepper sprayed.
EMT Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge arrived at the scene where Nichols was seen handcuffed on the ground and leaning against a police officer. Lt. Michelle Whitaker, who drove the fire truck to the scene, remained in the vehicle.
A Memphis police officer approaches Tire Nichols’ vehicle on January 7, 2023.
(Memphis Police Department)
“Our investigation has concluded that the two EMTs responded based on the initial nature of the call (person being pepper sprayed) and the information they received at the scene and failed to properly assess Mr. Nichols’ patient.” said Fire Chief Gina Sweat. in a sentence. “After their initial interaction with Mr. Nichols, they requested an ambulance to respond.”
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Sweat added that when the ambulance arrived, nearly 15 minutes after the fire truck arrived, emergency personnel began caring for the patient and transported Nichols to St. Francis Hospital.
The investigation, according to the chief, found that Long, Sandridge and Whitaker violated numerous department policies and protocols and were fired as a result.
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“Your actions or inactions on the scene that night do not meet the expectations of the Memphis Fire Department and do not reflect the excellent service that the men and women of the Memphis Fire Department provide daily to our community,” Sweat said.
