What is Scorpion, the police unit at the centre of Tyre Nichols' death?

When Memphis, a city in southwest Tennessee, had a record number of homicides in 2021 for the second year in a row, many were calling for action.

The name stands for the Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods - yet officers from that same unit were responsible for thePlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerMemphis authorities have released video footage of Tyre Nichols being held down by officers and struck repeatedly as he screamed for his mother.

Made up of 40 officers divided into four 10-member teams, the unit was tasked with addressing violent crime and investigating car thefts and gangs.In January last year, Mayor Jim Strickland promoted the unit as part of the solution to the high homicide rate, stating that in its first three months, it had made hundreds of arrests and seized hundreds of cars and weapons.

Police initially said Mr Nichols had been stopped for reckless driving on 7 January and that a"confrontation" occurred in an effort to detain him.He died three days after the assault.'Unit is an excuse to harass everyday residents' Chelsea Glass, a community organiser in Memphis who is an advocate for criminal justice reform, called Scorpion a street crime-fighting team relying on traffic stops as excuses to find violent criminals and weapons."But it's really just stop-and-frisk on wheels. It doesn't matter what name you slap on it."The five officers have been charged with second-degree murder, official misconduct, aggravated kidnapping, official oppression and aggravated assault.

I watched the sickening attack on Tyre Nichols. It reminded me of the brutal beating by police officers on Rodney King. Seems like the authorities haven't learned anything in the 30 years or so.

I imagine coloured folk don't know who to be 'up in arms' against on this one.

AND ALL of the officers where BLACK.

A police Unit with a zero tolerance policy towards crime?

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Tyre Nichols: What is the 'Scorpion' unit of Memphis police?The special police squad unit focuses on violent crime, but critics say it has a reputation for brutality. How is this UK news BBC?
Source: BBCNews - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »

US braces for protests over video of Memphis police beating Tyre Nichols\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t
Source: FT - 🏆 113. / 51 Read more »

Tyre Nichols: Biden urges calm over Memphis police murder caseVideo of the traffic stop arrest that led to Tyre Nichols' death is due to be released on Friday. How is this UK news BBC? This probably has nothing to do with what he was doing at the time of the stop. These cops are settling a score, simply because this is the power they think they have over the community.
Source: BBCNews - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »

Tyre Nichols - The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News🗣️'The officers that killed my son disgraced their families'. Tyre Nichols' mother has been told that her son's final words were 'mum, mum, mum', according to a lawyer. Latest: I bet they were actually 'I shouldn't of ran and fought' when keeping it real goes wrong SMH Their families are innocent. They disgraced themselves. Their own images. Do Not Pray for these SCUM, These Bastards MURDERED Your Son, How much Pain Did he Suffer at the Hands of these SCUM, Please do Not Pray for them None of them deserve your Prayers
Source: SkyNews - 🏆 35. / 67 Read more »

Footage shows Memphis Police brutally beating Tyre NicholsThe 29-year-old appears to cry out repeatedly for his mother during the arrest in Memphis this month. Horrific beyond words. His mother is remarkable “I just feel like my son was sent here on assignment from God, and his assignment is over and he was sent back home. God is not gonna let any of his children’s names go in vain” Horrific! Why so many cops at 1 scene for 1 person? Higher ups need to be fired! Gang like - club scene! The guy limping needs to be under the jail. And before you start it was black on black 🙄
Source: BBCNews - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »

The Tyre Nichols Videos Demand Solemnity, Not SensationalismThe Tyre Nichols videos demand solemnity, not sensationalism, writes TIME's JanellRoss JanellRoss A white supremacist magazine asks black people not to show their anger over a heinous murder of an innocent black man. JanellRoss US Police need to get back to the basics. They're meant to be there to PROTECT the community, not KILL the community... 🤷‍♂️ TyreNichols JanellRoss Don't care. Biden F'd the middle class. Getting less than half the refund we are used to. Got billions to steal from hard working Americans to give to Ukraine. Unprecedented betrayal of Americans. All involved. Both parties need to be behind bars. They do not represent us.
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