After protests erupting in different parts of the country over the death of Tyre Nichols, the Memphis police department has disbanded the 'Scorpion' special unit, whose officers were involved in beating Nichols.
Scorpion stands for "Streets Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighbourhoods". The unit consisting of around 50 members was under the mission of bringing down crime levels in selected areas.
The police department took the decision after the video of Nichols being beaten up by the unit's officers got released on Friday.
"It is in best interest of all to permanently deactivate" the unit, the police department said in a statement.
"While the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonour on the title of Scorpion, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department, take proactive steps in the healing process for all impacted," read the statement.
Nichols' family welcomed the decision of the police and said that it was an appropriate, decent and just decision for all citizens of Memphis.
Five officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith, who were involved in beating Nichols was fired last week.
According to reports, they are facing charges of murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
Protests in Memphis
Despite challenging weather, protesters gathered in front of the Memphis police headquarters demanding a change in the system with the habit of brutalising the black people in Memphis.
"Memphis is taking a stand," Casio Montez, one of the protesters said. The protests will continue till the community's demands are met, he added.
Scorpion Unit was created to be more responsive and proactive to gun violence in the city, Chief Davis told BBC. She also said that the officers who had beaten Nichols had "decided to go off the rails".
"This is not an issue of corruption in the United States, this is an issue of the fact that the system had been built against black bodies...If the system is broken, the only way to fix it is to start again," Davis was quoted by BBC.
Three days after the incident of beating Nichols over suspicion of reckless driving, he had died in the hospital. The Memphis police department released four graphic videos of the traffic stop and the brutal attacks on Friday.
Protests erupted in Memphis over the incident has been peaceful so far. The demonstrators had blocked the major highway in the city, as per reports.
What is 'Scorpion' unit?
The unit was proposed by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. The city used crime data to determine where the unit will conduct its enforcement activities within the city. The unit was launched in October 2021. Since then, the unit has made over 500 arrests. It has also seized theft vehicles, and weapons as well.
