Following the tragic news of Tyre Nichols' death, three Memphis fire department workers have been fired due to their response at the scene of the arrest.
In a statement released by the department on Monday, it was concluded that the employees in question had "violated numerous MFD policies and protocols" when responding to Nichols’ arrest.
Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, the two EMTs that were supposed to treat the 29-year-old for an alleged "pepper spray" incident "failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment" according to the department. Michelle Whitaker, a lieutenant assigned to drive a Memphis Fire Department vehicle to the scene but who remained inside, was also fired.
"After concluding our internal investigation, it was determined that EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge, and Lt. Whitaker violated numerous MFD Policies and Protocols. As a result, EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge, and Lt. Whitaker have been terminated from the Memphis Fire Department."
"Their actions or inactions on the scene that night do not meet the expectations of the Memphis Fire Department and are not reflective of the outstanding service the men and women of the Memphis Fire Department provide daily in our community," the department concluded in its statement.
The news comes just as it was announced that two other police officers who had allegedly been involved in the 29-year-old's death have only just been suspended.
Preston Hemphill, a white officer, as well as another unidentified officer, have been fired and according to the Huffington Post, the news was only made public on Monday despite five other Black officers being fired and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression.
Desmond Mills, Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Emmitt Martin were all caught on body cam, as well as surveillance, abusing Nichols before taking turns to brutally beat him.
According to the footage, which was released on January 27, the officers initially stopped Nichols for reckless driving before chasing him down, restraining him and repeatedly punching and kicking him in the face.
As per a timeline of events detailed by CNN, the beating ended with Nichols being dragged along the pavement and propped up in a sitting position against the side of a car, "where he is largely ignored by officers for the next three-and-a-half minutes."
Ten minutes into the video, a person who appears to be a paramedic finally engages with the victim.
During the altercation, Hemphill was heard on his body camera video saying "I hope they stomp his a**" not only once, but twice.
According to ABC News, Hemphill and the unidentified seventh officer haven't been fired or charged, pending further investigation.
The attorneys for Nichols' family, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, said they were extremely disappointed that Hemphill was relieved of duty but not fired or charged. The lawyers are also questioning why the Memphis police did not immediately announce Hemphill's name or that he was relieved of duty.
"Why is his identity and the role he played in Tyre's death just now coming to light?", they said in a statement. "We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community - this news seems to indicate that they haven't risen to the occasion. It certainly begs the question why the white officer involved in this brutal attack was shielded and protected from the public eye, and to date, from sufficient discipline and accountability.
"The Memphis Police Department owes us all answers."
Upon hearing the news, people have been taking to social media to call out the double standards within the investigation, pointing their fingers at how the Black officers were fired and charged immediately, while other officers, such as Hemphill, initially received what was described as a "lesser" punishment for their involvement.
The district attorney’s office confirmed that they are investigating everyone involved in Nichols’ fatal arrest, with further charges possible depending on their findings.
"The current charges do not preclude us from adding additional charges as more information is presented. We are looking at all individuals involved in the events leading up to, during, and after the beating of Tyre Nichols.
"This includes the officer present at the initial encounter who has not— so far—been charged, Memphis Fire Department personnel, and persons who participated in preparing documentation of the incident afterward," a statement from the district attorney’s office said.
"The DA’s Office worked extraordinarily swiftly but thoroughly to charge those whose offenses were plain and clear and directly contributed to the death of Mr. Nichols, but in no way is this investigation over."
Rest in power, Tyre Nichols. We hope justice prevails.
