The specialized police unit that included the five Memphis officers charged with the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols was disbanded on Saturday as more protests took place in US cities a day after the harrowing video of the attack was released
The police department said in a statement it was permanently deactivating the SCORPION unit after the police chief spoke with members of Nichols’ family, community leaders and other officers. A police spokesperson confirmed all five officers were members of the unit.
Cities across the United States saw renewed nonviolent demonstrations on Saturday. In Memphis, protesters chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” angrily catcalled a police car that was monitoring the march, with several making obscene gestures. Some cheered loudly when they learned of the disbandment of SCORPION.
The SCORPION unit, short for the Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods, was formed in October 2021 to concentrate on crime hot spots. Critics say such specialized teams can be prone to abusive tactics.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tyre Nichols' death at hands of Memphis police sparks Rodney King comparisonsKing's daughter said Tyre Nichols' death was part of a long line of police brutality that stretched from her dad to the 'I can't breathe' chokehold death of Eric Garner in 2014, to the murder in Minneapolis of George Floyd in 2020.
Read more »
Memphis disbands police unit after fatal beating video | News24The US city of Memphis on Saturday disbanded the special police unit whose officers fatally beat a young Black man, after graphic video of the assault sparked widespread shock and outrage.
Read more »
'Where was the humanity?' asks mother of killed Memphis man | News24Memphis police beat Tyre Nichols so badly his head was swollen 'like a watermelon' and his neck was broken, the mother of the 29-year-old Black man said Friday as the city girded for possible violence over his death.
Read more »
US on edge over video of fatal police beatingThe southern US city of Memphis braced itself for unrest Friday as authorities prepared to release a video depicting the fatal assault of a Black m...
Read more »