The Memphis Police Department has disbanded the city’s so-called Scorpion unit, Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis announced Saturday citing a “cloud of dishonor” from newly released video that showed some of its officers beating Tyre Nichols to death after stopping the Black motorist under bogus pretense.
Chief Davis said she decided to shut down the unit after the harrowing video emerged, saying she listened to Nichols’ relatives, community leaders and uninvolved officers in making the decision, according to Huffington Post.
Her announcement came as the nation and the city struggled to come to grips with the violence of the officers, who are also Black. The video renewed doubts about why fatal encounters with law enforcement keep happening despite repeated calls for change.
The footage released Friday prompted many questions about the traffic stop and about other law enforcement officers who stood by as Nichols lay motionless on the pavement.
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The five former police officers who beat Nichols have been fired and charged with murder and other crimes in connection with the incident.
