Following deadly beating of Tyre Nichols, Memphis police disband SCORPION Unit
The Memphis Police Division introduced Saturday that it would be disbanding the anti-gang SCORPION unit that the 5 officers concerned within the beating of Tyre Nichols belonged to.
Quick for Road Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods, the SCORPION Unit has been closely criticized following a visitors cease by which 5 of the unit’s Black officers severely beat 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, who was additionally Black.
Body cam footage shows Nichols being pummeled quite a few instances with the officer’s batons, fists, and boots, whilst he pleaded for them to cease. Nichols would die from his accidents three days later. The officers have been fired by the police division and have since been charged with murder.
“It’s in the most effective curiosity of all to completely deactivate the SCORPION Unit,” Memphis Police officers mentioned in a statement. “The officers presently assigned to the unit agree undeservedly with this subsequent step. Whereas the heinous actions of some forged a cloud of dishonor on the title SCORPION, it’s crucial that we, the Memphis Police Division, take proactive steps within the therapeutic course of for all impacted.”
Following the announcement, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, civil rights attorneys representing the Nichols household, launched a statement of their very own lauding the choice.
“The Nichols household and their authorized group discover the choice to completely disband this unit to be each acceptable and proportional to the tragic demise of Tyre Nichols, and likewise a good and simply determination for all residents of Memphis,” the attorneys mentioned.
Nonetheless, others mentioned the transfer did not go far sufficient.
“The group has much more questions and much more calls for,” Memphis metropolis council member Patrice Robinson informed CNN. “We actually want to research and discover out what is going on on.”
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