The Shelby County District Attorney declared on Tuesday that no legal proceedings would be brought against any of the Memphis policemen who were dismissed for their role in the deadly traffic stop that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ killing.
On January 7, after a traffic stop and brief foot pursuit, Memphis cops detectives assaulted and punched Black guy Nichols, 29, numerous times.
Preston Hemphill, a former White Memphis policeman, took part in the first traffic check of Nichols. Based on the Memphis Police Department, he was dismissed and investigated administratively—not criminally—over policy infractions relating to his behavior, honesty, and cooperation with rules regulating his use of stun weapons, uniform, supplies, and management of seized items.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy stated in a press release that “though not at all do we support the action of Hemphill at the stop including Tyre Nichols.” Hemphill remained at the original location and didn’t go after Tyre Nichols in the present case.
Mulroy asserts that Hemphill was not present during the 2nd incident in which Nichols was severely beaten by officers and that Hemphill was recently listed on the department’s Giglio list.