The Memphis Police Department has taken the unprecedented step of permanently disbanding its controversial organised crime unit, known as Scorpion, following the horrific death of Tyre Nichols. The 29-year-old Black man died in hospital three days after a violent traffic stop arrest that has ignited national outrage.
Graphic Footage Reveals Shocking Violence
Authorities have released approximately an hour of bodycam and pole camera footage showing the 7 January incident in devastating detail. The video depicts five Black officers, since fired and charged with murder, savagely beating Mr Nichols as he cries out for his mother. He can be heard repeatedly pleading, "I'm just trying to go home."
The footage shows officers dragging Mr Nichols from his car, deploying a Taser, and pursuing him on foot before subjecting him to a prolonged and vicious assault. The violence continues even as he lies defenceless on the ground.
Nationwide Protests and Political Reactions
The release of the video has triggered demonstrations across the United States, with protesters drawing parallels to the 2020 killing of George Floyd. President Joe Biden has acknowledged the profound grief and anger, stating the incident "has rightfully shocked the conscience of the nation."
In a significant move, the Memphis Police Department announced the permanent deactivation of the Scorpion (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit. "It is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the Scorpion unit," the department stated.
Officers Face Serious Charges
The five officers directly involved—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr, and Justin Smith—have been dismissed from duty and charged with second-degree murder among other offences. Two additional officers have been suspended, while three Memphis Fire Department personnel involved in the medical response have been fired.
District Attorney Steve Mulroy emphasised that the investigation remains active, stating, "We are looking at everybody who had any role in the events leading up to, during, and after the beating of Tyre Nichols."
Family Seeks Justice and Reform
The Nichols family and their legal representatives have welcomed the disbanding of the Scorpion unit but continue to call for comprehensive police reform. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, described the video evidence as "appalling," "deplorable," and "heinous."
Mr Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, expressed her heartbreak, revealing, "Nobody is ever going to tell me how my son got those bruises on his brain. Nobody is ever going to tell me how he had a broken neck."
The United States Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the Memphis Police Department's practices, while Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch described the incident as "absolutely appalling."
