Special Task Force involving 5 officers Dyer Nicholas‘Death is smashed for good… a face after the top dog says he won’t do it.
The Memphis Police Department announced Saturday that they are shutting down the Scorpion unit immediately … following public outcry. Output of body camera footage It shows Nichols being detained and brutally beaten by five policemen on January 7.
The department says the Inspector General of Police Cherylyn “CJ” Davis We met with other officers of Scorpion (the street crime force that restores peace in our neighbourhoods) and mutually decided that it would be best to disband the unit in light of everything.
MPD says they made the decision after hearing from Dyer’s family, community leaders and the public — officers who are part of Scorpion and officers who normally work well, “agree not to take this next step.”
Memphis Police Department
They added, “While the brutal actions of a few bring shame to the title of Scorpion, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department, take proactive steps in the healing process for all victims.” MPD says they need to restore confidence soon.
Interestingly, Chief Davis said Friday that he was not going to close the Scorpion … telling the AP, “I have a whole feeling that the Scorpion unit is a bad unit, and I have a problem with that.”
There was a lot of digging into what this unit was/why the officers in it had any reason to be in contact with Dyer on the night in question. Scorpion was created in October 2021 and launched the following month…so it’s been around for over a year.
Memphis Police Department
According to MPD’s description of the Scorpion at the time … the whole idea was to split about 40 officers into 4 teams to patrol “high crime areas” throughout Memphis.
The tire’s traffic stop-tuner-chase occurred at the intersection of East Raines Road and Ross Road — near the Autumn Ridge neighborhood … which appears to be one of the areas designated for the Scorpion’s hideout. It was no coincidence that its five policemen were there.
Memphis Police Department
The chief said there was no evidence as to why the tire was pulled in the first place. Careless driving was cited, but no probable cause was found.
Dyer died of his injuries, and 5 other officers later Accused of murder. across the country Protests have erupted And the Nichols family has demanded accountability.