Memphis Police Department announced Saturday it has dissolved the street crimes unit that the five officers who beat Tyre Nichols belonged to.
Former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith belonged to the department’s Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods unit, also known as the SCORPION unit. It was previously made up of four total teams of officers. The five officers involved have since been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, one count of official oppression, aggravated assault-act in concert, and two counts of aggravated kidnapping
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“In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their assignment, it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit,” the department said in a statement. “The officers currently assigned to the unit agree unreservedly with this next step. While the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonor on the title SCORPION, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department take proactive steps in the healing process for all impacted.”
This announcement comes the day after the department released the footage of the officers beating Nichols, which was a little over two weeks after the 29 year old died as a result. These five officers were promptly fired from the department before receiving criminal charges.
The SCORPION unit made over 566 arrests and seized over $103,000 in cash and 253 weapons in three months from its organization in November 2021 according to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland (D). After news about Nichols’ killing broke, Strickland issued a statement saying it was “clear that these officers violated the department’s policies and training.”
“But we are doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again,” Strickland said. “We are initiating an outside, independent review of the training, policies, and operations of our specialized units.”
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Haley, Martin, and Smith were released after paying a $350,000 bond, and Bean and Mills were also released on a $250,000 bond.
