A sixth Memphis Police Division officer was fired on Friday for his function within the brutal beating and demise of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man who died in January three days after a visitors cease.
The officer, Preston Hemphill, was positioned on depart at first of the division’s investigation. MPD introduced his termination Friday, almost a month after Nichols was overwhelmed. Hemphill has not been charged with against the law.
Requires Hemphill’s dismissal grew after Memphis launched over an hour of physique digicam and surveillance footage of officers beating, kicking, pepper spraying and utilizing a Taser on Nichols.
In keeping with lawyer Lee Gerald, Hemphill’s physique digicam was launched displaying officers’ preliminary encounter with Nichols, by which no less than three officers approached his automotive at a visitors gentle, yelling expletives whereas forcing him out of the automotive and onto the bottom.
The division mentioned Hemphill violated insurance policies together with: private conduct, truthfulness, compliance with Taser laws, compliance with uniform laws and a coverage governing stock and recovered property.
The investigation into Nichols’ demise stays ongoing, the police mentioned Friday, and “a number of” officers are beneath investigation.
Hemphill, who’s white, was employed in March 2018.
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On Jan. 20, the division fired 5 different officers for his or her roles in Nichols’ beating demise. Every week later, these officers, who’re all Black, had been indicted on costs that embody second-degree homicide.
Earlier this week, three staff with the Memphis Hearth Division had been terminated from the division associated to Nichols’ demise.
Hemphill is the ninth Metropolis of Memphis worker fired in relation to Nichols’ demise.
Gerald confirmed to The Industrial Enchantment, a part of the USA TODAY Community, that he was current on the preliminary cease of Nichols.
“I can affirm that I characterize Memphis Police Officer Preston Hemphill, who was the third officer on the preliminary cease of Mr. Nichols. Video one is his physique cam footage,” Gerald informed The Industrial Enchantment in an e mail assertion on the time. “As per departmental laws, Officer Hemphill activated his physique cam. He was by no means current on the second scene. He’s cooperating with officers on this investigation.”
Gerald didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Friday afternoon.
Within the footage from Hemphill’s physique digicam, officers maintain Nichols down and are hit by pepper spray that was deployed by one other officer. The digicam shakes as Nichols runs and an officer, that Gerald recognized as Hemphill, shoots at him with a taser.
After a short chase, Hemphill stops operating after Nichols, turns again and may be heard saying, “I hope they stomp his ass.”
Gerald didn’t reply to questions from The Industrial Enchantment on Monday about whether or not he he anticipates Hemphill will probably be charged with against the law or whether or not Hemphill was a part of the now deactivated SCORPION unit.
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Industrial Enchantment reporter Lucas Finton contributed.
Laura Testino covers schooling and kids’s points for the Industrial Enchantment. Attain her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com. Discover her on Twitter: @LDTestino