Tennessee authorities are preparing for the release of body camera footage of police officer Tire Nichols, a 29-year-old black man who died three days after a traffic stop on January 7.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis gave a speech Wednesday night calling Nichols’ death “heinous, reckless and inhumane” and warning people not to react violently after viewing the footage.
“This is not just a professional failure. This is a failure of basic humanity toward another person,” Davis said, saying the five officers and others involved in his death “failed our community and they failed the Nichols family. That’s beyond unfortunate.”
“In the interest of transparency, when the video is released in the next few days, you will see it for yourselves,” he added. “I hope you feel what the Nichols family feels. I hope you feel outraged at the lack of respect for basic human rights, as our police officers have sworn to do the opposite of what occurred in the video.”
NICHOLS TIRES: MEMPHIS POLICE BODY CAMERA VIDEO OF TRAFFIC STOP IS ‘ESPORIENT’, LAWYER SAYS AFTER REVIEW
A portrait of Tire Nichols is displayed at a memorial service on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee.
(AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also reviewed the body camera footage with Nichols’ family, similarly describing it as “appalling” and “appalling.”
“It’s appalling. It’s deplorable. It’s egregious. It’s violent,” Crump said Monday.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference with the family of Tire Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, Monday, January 23, 2023.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The police chief also acknowledged that the content of the video will likely provoke people to take action, but discouraged them from acting violently.
“I hope our citizens will exercise their First Amendment right to protest, demand action and results. But,” he continued, “we need to make sure that our community is safe in this process.”
“None of this is a calling card to incite violence or destruction in our community or against our citizens,” Davis said.
Davis also said the investigation and release of the body camera footage are among the first steps for police to regain their footing in the community, calling for “truly responsible action and change.”
“In our grief, our outrage and our frustration, there is still work to be done to strengthen each other and continue the momentum to improve our police-community relations and partnerships,” he said.
TIRE NICHOLS INVESTIGATION: US ATTORNEY URGES NON-VIOLENCE BEFORE VIDEO RELEASE, DOES NOT ANNOUNCE CHARGES
Davis added: “To show those who are watching now that this behavior is not what will define our community and this great city. This is not a reflection of the good work that many Memphis police officers do every day. What’s Coming below is our definition”. moment. What we all do next may be that reflection of our character.”
“I am not wavering in my commitment to you to have a police force that is here to serve and protect you,” he also said. “I have come together and offered my condolences to Tire’s mother and father and asked for the support of our community leaders and clergy at this extremely difficult time.”
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis addressed the community ahead of the release of police officer Tire Nichols’ body camera footage.
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He added: “It is my intent, as a proactive measure, to conduct a full and independent review of all specialized units of the Memphis Police Department and to ensure that policies and procedures are followed in daily encounters with the citizens we are sworn to serve. .”
In her remarks, Davis said she was not only speaking as a police chief, but as a “citizen of this community we share,” “a mother” and “a caring human being who wants the best for all of us.”
Nichols was pulled over Jan. 7 around 8:30 p.m. for “reckless driving” near Raines Road and Ross Road in Memphis.
DEATH OF TIRE NICHOLS: 2 MEMPHIS FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ALSO FIRED
Kenyana Dixon is comforted during a rally for her brother Tire Nichols at the National Civil Rights Museum on Monday, January 16, 2023.
(Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP)
A “confrontation occurred” during the stop, which resulted in police pursuing Nichols on foot, police said. He later he was apprehended.
“While trying to detain the suspect, another confrontation occurred; however, the suspect was ultimately apprehended,” MPD said. “Afterward, the suspect complained of having difficulty breathing, at which point he was called for an ambulance.”
He was transported in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital, where he died three days later.
The five Memphis police officers involved in the death were identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. They were later fired.
Chief Davis said other MPD officers are still under investigation for “department policy violations.”
He added: “Some violations are less serious than others.”
Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 18 for their roles in the arrest of Tire Nichols.
(MPD)
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Two members of the Memphis Fire Department were also fired and an internal investigation was launched.
“Last week, two MFD staff members involved in the initial care of the patient of Tire Nichols were relieved of their duties pending an internal investigation,” the city’s fire department told Fox News on Tuesday. Tennessee.
Fox News’ Greg Norman and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
