Officer Preston Hemphill of the Memphis Police Department has been relieved of his duties for his involvement in the murder of Tyre Nichols.
A spokesperson for the department confirmed Hemphill, who was hired in 2018, has been relieved of his duties and an investigation is ongoing.
The news of Hemphill’s firing came on the heels of protesters calling for MPD and city officials to take additional action after the video of the 29-year-old’s brutal beating was released on Friday (January 27).
On Thursday (January 26), former Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmit Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were booked into the Shelby County Jail in Memphis on several charges including second-degree murder, official misconduct, official oppression, and aggravated kidnapping in the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Hemphill is allegedly captured on bodycam video tasing Tyre Nichols.
When Tyre ran away, scared for his life, Preston Hemphill is allegedly heard saying that he hopes other officers “stomp his @ss.”
Memphis Councilman JB Smiley Jr. called on the Memphis police to fire the officer, who was unidentified at the time.
In a statement, shared on Twitter, Smiley wrote, “The officer who tased Tyre Nichols and who compelled the other officers to stomp him must be fired. We must put an end to the culture that allows excessive force and assumes it is commonplace.”
See his tweets below.
That fact that the Memphis Police Department had to be called out before they took action against former officer Preston Hemphill speaks volumes.
Now, I’m impatiently awaiting the charges against Hemphill because Tyre Nichols’ blood is on his hands, as well as the EMTs, who failed to render immediate aid to him.
To date, over $1 million has been raised to support the Tyre Nichols Memorial Fund.
Please continue to keep Tyre’s family uplifted in prayer as they continue their fight for justice.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or join the convo on our socials. (Facebook, Instagram)
Source: ABC24 Memphis
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