The Memphis Police Department has been found to use excessive force and discriminate against Black residents, according to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The inquiry was launched following the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after being violently assaulted by five officers during a traffic stop.
A report released Wednesday concludes the six-month investigation, finding that Memphis police “regularly violate the rights of the people they are sworn to serve.” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The people of Memphis deserve a police department that protects their rights, earns trust, and ensures safety.”
The city has resisted federal oversight of its police department, stating in a letter that it will review and challenge the findings before considering negotiations for a consent decree, which would mandate reforms monitored by a federal judge. Officials have scheduled a news conference for Thursday to address the report, following a DOJ briefing earlier that day.
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Body camera footage from Nichols’ case revealed officers pepper spraying, kicking, and striking him with a baton after a traffic stop near his home. The officers later laughed and talked casually as Nichols lay injured. The five officers involved—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith—were fired, charged with murder in state court, and indicted on federal civil rights and witness tampering charges. Nichols, a Black man, and the officers, all also Black, became the center of national protests demanding police reform.
The DOJ report highlights systemic issues within the Memphis Police Department (MPD), including its reliance on aggressive traffic stops to combat violent crime. Officers in specialized units, such as the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit implicated in Nichols’ death, were encouraged to prioritize street enforcement without clear rules or adequate supervision. This approach, described as “saturation,” disproportionately targeted Black residents, with officers using excessive force for minor infractions.
Investigators found that MPD officers frequently exceeded constitutional limits, detaining and searching individuals without justification. One incident involved officers pepper-spraying and using a Taser on an unarmed man with a mental illness over a $2 theft. The DOJ noted that the department has never assessed its practices for racial discrimination.
The Scorpion Unit’s misconduct led to numerous dismissed cases due to inconsistencies between body camera footage and arrest reports, prosecutors said. The report underscores that Memphis police lack adequate policies, training, and accountability to prevent abuses.
The DOJ has conducted similar investigations in other cities, including Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder and Louisville after Breonna Taylor’s killing. While federal oversight often results in consent decrees to enforce reforms, Memphis officials argue that such agreements are costly and premature.
The five officers involved in Nichols’ death face sentencing on federal charges, with some already pleading guilty. State trials for the remaining charges are scheduled for April 2024.
