Omaha Police Condemn Memphis Officers Involved in Tyre Nichols Death
OMAHA, Nebraska (WOWT) — Police told 6 News Friday that officers will be “monitoring the situation” here in Omaha following the expected release of video footage of policemen fatally beating a Memphis man.
Tyre Nichols family members and their lawyers said the footage shows five officers brutally beating a 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an attack that the legal team compared to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
Last week, five Memphis officers were fired and charged in connection with the incident, but other officers are still under investigation for violating department policy. Court records showed that all five former officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith – were taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping circumstances, misconduct. and official oppression.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that while all five played different roles in the murder, “they are all responsible.”
According to their lawyers, at least two of them plan to plead not guilty.
An OPD spokesman said police in many major cities, including Omaha, plan to monitor any potential repercussions from the release of the video, which is expected to be released Friday night. The OPD also contacts community partners in case they expect any local events.
On Friday evening, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer released a statement regarding the incident.
“As an agency, we wish to express our sadness and condolences to the family of Mr. Tyre Nichols.
I want to thank the Chief of Memphis Police and the District Attorney for taking swift and decisive action against the officers involved. Criminal activity by police officers can never be tolerated. Not in Memphis. Not in Omaha. Nowhere. The five officers from Memphis have undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement across the country. We condemn their actions.
The Omaha Police Department is committed to maintaining the trust placed in it by the community. In addition, we strive for the transparency, accountability and high levels of integrity that our citizens demand.”
Members of the Nichols family called for any protests to remain peaceful. His mother and stepfather attended a candlelight vigil and prayer service at a Memphis skate park Thursday night. Nichols, who had a 4-year-old son, was an avid skateboarder.”
Rowan Wells, mother of Tyre Nichols, talks about the beating that led to her son’s death. (Source: CNN)
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Gray News, Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
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