Memphis police disband special unit whose officers beat Tyre Nichols to death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — On Saturday, Memphis police chief CJ Davis disbands the special unit whose officers beat to death motorist Tyre Nichols.

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According to a statement from the Memphis Police Department, “In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their assignments, it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit.”

The SCORPION (Street Crimes Operations to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) was started in Nov. 2021 and was comprised of 40 officers split into four teams that patrolled “high crime hotspots” throughout the city, the police department said.

Read: Tyre Nichols death: Memphis police release bodycam footage

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