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The Justice Department found that Memphis police have been using excessive force and discriminating against Black residents. The department has been closely watched since Tyre Nichols’s death in the previous year. The report highlighted that children, in particular, have been subjected to intimidating and aggressive interactions with officers.
Written by Emily Cochrane and Shaila Dewan
The Justice Department conducted an investigation into the Memphis Police Department and found that they had used too much force, treated Black individuals unfairly compared to white individuals, and mistreated those with mental health problems. The report stated that these civil rights violations had a negative impact.
In a 73-page report, it was specifically mentioned how children were treated, with instances of "aggressive and alarming interactions with officers" highlighted. The report detailed the case of an 8-year-old boy with mental health problems who had multiple encounters with officers between December 2021 and August 2023. During these encounters, he was threatened, pushed, handcuffed, or thrown.
The Police Department has faced criticism since January 2023, when officers fatally assaulted Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop on his way home from work. The incident was recorded on body and street cameras, leading to widespread outrage and accounts from other community members regarding the department’s history of using excessive force.
The Justice Department initiated a civil rights investigation, specifically a pattern-or-practice inquiry, six months following Mr. Nichols’s death. This investigation is distinct from the various federal and state charges that have been brought against five former Memphis police officers related to the incident.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s civil rights division stated that the residents of Memphis should have a Police Department and city that upholds their civil and constitutional rights, builds trust, and ensures their safety. She expressed the agency’s anticipation for implementing changes to rectify the issues that have been identified.
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