The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the city of Memphis and its police department to examine potential violations related to the use of force, searches, arrests, and
discriminatory policing. The federal officials announced the civil pattern or practice inquiry with the aim of determining if there are systemic constitutional or federal violations within the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of constitutional and non-discriminatory policing for every individual in the country. She stated that based on a comprehensive review of publicly available information and data provided, there are justifiable grounds to initiate this investigation.
Notably, this inquiry is separate from a federal criminal civil rights investigation focused on several Memphis police officers in relation to the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, suffered a brutal assault by Memphis officers during a traffic stop on January 7, resulting in his death three days later. Following his death, protests erupted in the city, prompting a wider outcry against police brutality.
Five Memphis police officers involved in the incident were subsequently terminated and charged with second-degree murder and other counts. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The officers were part of a specialized unit known as the Scorpions, established in 2021 to combat an increase in homicides. In light of this investigation, federal officials also aim to develop guidelines to assist cities across the country in determining when to establish such specialized units.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed the significance of examining the conduct of the Memphis Police Department, particularly in the aftermath of Nichols' death, which caused immense pain in the community and the nation. The examination will address potential patterns or practices of unconstitutional conduct and discriminatory policing, with a focus on traffic enforcement's approach. Photo by by w:User:Coolcaesar, Wikimedia commons.