Memphis police shut down SCORPION unit whose officers are charged in death of Tyre Nichols - CBS News

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Memphis constabulary "permanently deactivate" SCORPION portion

Memphis constabulary "deactivate" SCORPION portion whose officers are charged successful decease of Tyre Nichols 03:51

The Memphis Police Department Saturday announced that it has "permanently deactivated" its SCORPION unit, 1 time aft the merchandise of shocking video which showed the convulsive apprehension of Tyre Nichols earlier this month. All 5 erstwhile officers progressive successful Nichols' arrest, who person since been charged with second-degree execution successful his death, were portion of that unit.

The determination came aft Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis met with members of the portion Saturday "to sermon the way guardant for the section and the assemblage successful the aftermath of the tragic decease of Tyre Nichols," constabulary said successful a statement.

Officials came to the decision that it was "in the champion involvement of each to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit," the connection read.

SCORPION officers agreed "unreservedly" with the decision, the section added.

The SCORPION portion had been inactive since the Jan. 7 apprehension of Nichols, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland had said successful a quality bulletin Friday.

SCORPION, oregon Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace successful Our Neighborhoods, included much than 2 twelve officers tasked with taking connected thoroughfare crime. They wore achromatic hoodies and tactical achromatic vests with "POLICE" emblazoned crossed the beforehand and back, and drove acheronian colored Dodge Chargers marked with a SCORPION seal.

They patrolled successful groups and astatine times utilized low-level postulation stops arsenic a mode to find convulsive criminals, drugs oregon weapons, according to the department.

"While the heinous actions of a fewer casts a unreality of dishonor connected the rubric SCORPION, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department instrumentality proactive steps successful the healing process for each impacted," Saturday's connection read.

The 29-year-old Nichols died connected Jan. 10, 3 days aft being violently arrested during a postulation halt by Memphis constabulary officers. Bodycam and surveillance video released Friday showed Nichols being capsicum sprayed, kicked successful the caput portion being restrained, punched and struck aggregate times with a baton.

The 5 erstwhile officers, who person since been fired, person been identified arsenic Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. They were hired from 2017 to 2020, and were 24 to 32 years old. All 5 officers person been charged with execution and different crimes.

In his news bulletin Friday, Strickland besides wrote said that the metropolis was "initiating an outside, autarkic reappraisal of the training, policies and operations of our specialized units."

-- Pat Milton and Chrissy Hallowell contributed to this report.