What’s Memphis’ controversial SCORPION police unit?

(Reuters) – No less than a few of the officers concerned within the visitors cease that authorities say resulted within the beating and loss of life of Tyre Nichols have been a part of a specialised Memphis policing unit referred to as SCORPION.

Underneath stress over rising violent crime, Memphis in October 2021 created SCORPION, which stands for Avenue Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods. Its mandate is to stem homicides, assaults and robberies.

How is SCORPION related to the Nichols case?

As a result of at the very least a few of the officers belonged to SCORPION, questions have arisen over whether or not they have been appearing as a part of the unit after they encountered Nichols.

Extra broadly, the case has drawn consideration to Memphis’ specialised models and elite police groups basically. Critics say some of these activity forces usually use aggressive ways, function with out satisfactory oversight and harass communities of colour.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died within the hospital three days after a violent Jan. 7 encounter with the 5 Black officers who initially stopped his automobile for a visitors violation.

The 5 officers have since been charged with second-degree homicide, assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression and fired from their jobs.

What’s the SCORPION unit?

Memphis officers have mentioned the unit contains about 40 officers in 4 groups concentrating on crime scorching spots. Every crew has members targeted on automotive theft, gang investigations and “crime suppression,” Mayor Jim Strickland mentioned in a speech in January 2022.

A 2021 video in regards to the unit’s launch confirmed a number of dozen officers, largely males, going by means of roll name earlier than heading on patrols. Some wore plain garments and drove unmarked vehicles.

In its first few months of existence, between October 2021 and Jan. 23, 2022, SCORPION made 566 arrests. Of these, 390 have been felony arrests, in keeping with Strickland. Officers seized tens of 1000’s of {dollars} and over 250 weapons, the mayor mentioned.

What’s the criticism of SCORPION?

The Nichols case has raised issues that the unit strayed from its core mission, had insufficient oversight and used ways that elevated the chance of violence.

Attorneys for the household have referred to as on the police division to disband SCORPION. Civil rights legal professional Ben Crump mentioned such models can flip into “a pack of wolves.”

He identified that Nichols’ encounter with police started with a visitors cease, which doesn’t fall underneath the unit’s mandate to handle violent crime. Critics say such stops are excuses to seek for weapons or medicine and might escalate into violence.

Crump additionally highlighted that one other Black male in Memphis mentioned he was the sufferer of “extreme power” by SCORPION officers only a few days earlier than Nichols’ loss of life.

Is the unit underneath evaluation?

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis this week introduced a evaluation of all the police division’s specialised models together with SCORPION in response to Nichols’ loss of life. She referred to as the incident “heinous, reckless and inhumane.”

The division didn’t instantly reply to questions on SCORPION’S standing, previous complaints in opposition to the unit and whether or not all 5 officers have been assigned to it.

(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Modifying by Cynthia Osterman)