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U.S.

Sixth Memphis police officer fired after beating death of Tyre

Nichols
By Jessica Schladebeck
New York Daily News • Feb 04, 2023 at 10:08 am

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A sixth Memphis police officer has been fired in connection with the violent arrest of Tyre
Nichols, marking the latest in a series of terminations and suspensions triggered by the traffic
stop that culminated in his death.

Officer Preston Hemphill was suspended earlier this week while he was investigated for his
role in the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in the hospital three days later. On Friday, he was
“departmentally charged and terminated” for violations including personal conduct,
truthfulness and violating rules regarding a Taser stun device, police said in a statement .

In this photo obtained from the Memphis Police Department's Facebook page, Preston Hemphill is pictured after completing the
training to join the department's Crisis Intervention Team on July 21, 2022. (AP)

Nichols was pulled over in Memphis’ Hickory Hill neighborhood last month on suspicion of
reckless driving. Video released days later shows officers holding him down and repeatedly
punching, kicking and striking him with a baton as he calls out for help. Nichols at one point
manages to escape the officers, who recapture him and continue the beating, video shows.

Hemphill was the third officer at the traffic stop ahead of the the arrest but was not at the
location where Nichols was beaten after he ran away. He has been with the Memphis Police
Department since March 2018.

This photo provided by the Nichols family shows Tyre Nichols, who was just minutes from his home in Memphis, Tenn., on Jan. 7, 2023
when he was pulled over by police and fatally beaten. Five Memphis police officers have since been charged with second-degree murder
and other offenses. (Nichols family)

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith
were also fired from the Memphis Police Department and charged with a slew of felonies
including second-degree murder .

Police said in Friday’s statement that an administrative investigation is underway, and

“multiple MPD officers are under investigation for departmental policy violations.”
This combo of images provided by the Memphis Police Department shows from top row from left officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius
Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row, from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. (Uncredited/AP)

Since Nichols death, seven Memphis police officers, including the five officers criminally
charged and Hemphill, have been relieved of duty. A pair of sheriff’s deputies in Shelby County
have also been suspended for their response to the traffic stop and three Memphis EMTs were
fired following an internal investigation.

On Friday, a Tennessee Department of Health board suspended the licenses of two of the fired
personnel for failing to render emergency care and treatment to Nichols nearly 20 after
arriving at the scene.

With News Wire Services

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