Others stood around the scene while five Memphis police officers beat Tyre Nichols with their feet, fists, and a baton. The 29-year-old screamed in pain before slumping haphazardly against a car. Similar to the attack on George Floyd in Minneapolis almost three years ago, a straightforward intervention would have been necessary to save a life. Nichols is now dead, and the five officers are accused of second-degree murder as well as other offences.
Now that the graphic video documenting Nichols’ torture has been made public, additional disciplinary measures may be forthcoming. On Monday, Memphis police released two more officers from their duties while stating that they are still looking into what took place. Three emergency response personnel who arrived at the site and failed to evaluate Nichols’ status were also fired by the Memphis Fire Department.
The Memphis and Minneapolis police departments are among many U.S. law enforcement agencies with “duty to intervene” policies
The Memphis and Minneapolis police departments are among many U.S. law enforcement agencies with “duty to intervene” policies. The Memphis protocol is clear: “Any member who directly observes another member engaged in dangerous or criminal conduct or abuse of a subject shall take reasonable action to intervene.”
It is the law, not merely a policy. Three Minneapolis police officers were found guilty of federal civil rights crimes for their failure to intervene and prevent former Officer Derek Chauvin from kneeling on Floyd’s neck while the Black man complained that he was having trouble breathing. According to experts, officers who fail to prevent their colleagues from bad behaviour are motivated by peer pressure and, in certain situations, fear retaliation.
“They’re afraid of being ostracized,” said George Kirkham, a criminology professor emeritus at Florida State University and former police officer. “You’ve got to depend on those guys. It’s the thin blue line. When you get out there and get in a jam, you’ve got nobody else to help you but other cops.”
Nichols Tyre was pulled over in a traffic stop on the night of Jan. 7
On the evening of January 7, Nichols Tyre was stopped for a driving violation. Even though Nichols appeared to be unsure of what he did wrong, body camera footage reveals that he was pummelling while officers yelled obscenities. He fled the chaos and was finally apprehended at a different crossroads not far from his mother’s home.
Two officers are seen holding Nichols down while another seems to kick him in the head, according to security camera footage from that incident. Later, while being held by another police, Nichols is repeatedly struck with a baton by another cop.