7th officer relieved of duty in Memphis case
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Police Department has disciplined two more officers involved in the arrest, beating and death of Tyre Nichols, the department said Monday, widening the circle of punishment for a killing that has already led to the murder indictment of five officers and outraged the nation with another display of police brutality.
Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was relieved of duty after Nichols’ Jan. 7 arrest, the department said. Five Black officers were fired and charged last week with second-degree murder and other offenses in his beating and Jan. 10 death.
Late Monday, the police department said another officer had been relieved of duty. Officials did not give a name or specify what role the officer played in the arrest. In all, seven Memphis officers have been disciplined.
Also Monday, fire officials announced the firing of emergency medical technicians Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge and Fire Department Lt. Michelle Whitaker in connection with Nichols’ death.
Fire Chief Gina Sweat said in a statement that the department received a call from police to respond to a report of a person who had been pepper-sprayed.
The workers arrived as Nichols was handcuffed on the ground and leaning up against a squad car, the statement said.
Long and Sandridge, based on the nature of the call and information they were told by police, “failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols,” the statement said. Whitaker and the driver remained in the engine.
An investigation determined that all three violated “multiple” policies and protocols, the statement said.