Oklahoma City Police Department is “appalled” by the fatal caning of a Memphis man
The Oklahoma City Police Department said it was appalled by the “tragic and unnecessary death” of Tire Nichols in Memphis, while the Tulsa police chief spoke of “a cultural acceptance of such abuse” among the five officers who killed the man after a traffic stop beat fatally.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Nichols’ family at this time,” read a statement posted to Facebook, which is attributed to Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley and the men and women of the department.
“We condemn the actions of the officers involved in Mr. Nichols’ death and commend the Memphis Police Department’s speedy investigation and action to terminate the employment of those involved.”
The statement was released after Memphis police released a four-part video late Friday showing the brutal beating of the 29-year-old FedEx employee on Jan. 7. Nichols, who was black, died from his injuries on January 10.
Five police officers involved were charged Thursday with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, misconduct and suppression of office.
The five officers are black.
Law enforcement agencies across the country braced themselves for protests following the release of the video, which shows Nichols being repeatedly punched, kicked and tasered after a traffic stop.
According to the Associated Press, there were isolated and mostly peaceful protests in Memphis, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
The Oklahoma City Police Department said, “As a law enforcement agency, trust in the community is essential to our core values. The mission of the Oklahoma City Police Department is to provide exceptional police service to our community with integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and justice.”
Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said the officers’ “punches, kicks and batons on Mr. Nichols were brutal. Even more troubling, I think, is the initial reaction of other officers, supervisors and paramedics, who neither provided assistance nor questioned the violence used against Mr. Nichols. This demonstrates a cultural acceptance of such abuse by this group of officials.”
Franklin said, “Many of the cops I know, including Memphis Chief (Cerelyn) Davis, are determined to make policing better. It’s not fast enough. I support the men and women in the police force who serve with honor and integrity. Your work should not go unnoticed.
“We cannot allow the actions of a handful of officers to tarnish the actions of thousands who faithfully and honorably wear a badge every day.”
Tulsa police and Muscogee Nation police shot dead a gunman December 31 after the suspect led a pursuit through Tulsa and fired multiple shots. The man got out of his car after the pursuit ended in a cemetery and was carrying a semi-automatic pistol and a pump-action shotgun, according to Tulsa Police Department, who placed the officers involved in the administration pending an investigation.
