8 more Memphis police officers to face charges in Tyro Nichols case, city attorney says

Eight more Memphis Police Department officers are likely to face charges after Death of Tyr Nichols last month, officials said Tuesday.

During a City Council meeting examining officers’ conduct during the violent arrest that left Nichols fatally injured, Memphis City Attorney Jennifer Sink spoke alongside Police Chief C.J. Davis to address the ongoing investigation into the police department. Sink told the board that she estimates eight additional Memphis police officers are expected to receive a statement of charges — which she called a document outlining their “policy violations” — in connection with Nichols’ arrest.

Nichols, a 29-year-old father and FedEx employee who lives in Memphis, was pulled over by police for an apparent traffic stop on the evening of January 7th. According to video and surveillance footage later released by city officials, Nichols continued to flee the area on foot before officers caught him and pulled him over at a nearby intersection.

The disturbing video sparked outrage across the country, renewing calls in Congress for police reform while raising questions about the conduct of a number of Memphis police officers and first responders involved in the arrest. The five officers were immediately dismissed and charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, dereliction of duty and official oppression. At least two additional officers were released from service January 8, when the investigation began, according to the police department.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Sink said a total of 13 Memphis police officers are now facing at least administrative charges in Nichols’ death. She said she could not publicly name the eight officers who are expected to be charged because their actions are still under investigation. However, Sink said she believed those documents would be handed over to them by the end of the week, with a follow-up hearing next week. Sink also said more information about the officers involved, the charges against them and the alleged policy violations they committed will be made available to the public next week.

On Tuesday, Davis told City Council members that her review of the officers involved in the Nichols case found no conduct-related warning signs in their records when they joined the Memphis Police Department. a division of SCORPION, which is now discontinued. The police chief also mentioned what she described as a long-standing shortage of leaders in the police department, although she also said officers received “exceptional” and frequent training.