Tyre Nichols: 4 of 5 ex-Memphis cops charged with murder faced prior suspensions, reprimands, records show
Four of the five former Memphis officers indicted for murder, aggravated assault and other charges in connection to the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols were previously suspended or received written reprimands during their tenure at the police department, according to reports. Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., Justin Smith, and Emmitt Martin III all received prior disciplinary action for incidents including failure to report when they used physicality, failing to report alleged domestic violence or for damages to their squad cars, according to internal records obtained by The Commercial Appeal through a public records request. Tadarrius Bean, also terminated and subsequently charged over Nichols' death, was the only one without any prior internal department disciplinary record, according to the newspaper. Haley received a written reprimand in November 2021 for failing to file a response to resistance form, which is required when "any part of the officer's body" is used "to compel compliance" per department policy and procedures. Memphis Police Department Officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were terminated on Jan. 18 for their role in the arrest of deceased Tyre Nichols. (Memphis Police Department) A woman complained in February of that year that Haley grabbed her "by the arm and turned her around to be handcuffed as she resisted arrest," according to the charges statement. A disciplinary hearing summary said, "Officer Haley advised that he understood the policy but had simply mistaken, in this case, as to the amount of force necessary to require a blue team entry." At the hearing, Memphis