Even if Tyre Nichols was having an illicit relationship with one of the five Scorpion squad member's wives, it becomes irrelevant after the officers on the squad stopped Tyre, approached his vehicle with firearms drawn, flung the car door open and pulled the driver out of his car.
Their actions were a departure from proper police protocol. The usual approach is to wait for the driver — who may or may not be discourteous to the officers — if all is normal. He or she would have opened the window and asked, “Why are you stopping me, or what have I done?” However, these officers had conceptualized this traffic stop and decided to just rip this man from the driver's seat and pull him to the ground, while continually barking orders at him. Throughout the incident, he was on his side not knowing whether to lay face down, kneel or cry while these five mountainous men continued to prod, kick and threaten to Taser him if he doesn't comply with their orders.
Tyre was doused with enough oleoresin capsicum (OC), or pepper spray, from their belt canisters to cause the area to look as though it rained, which kept me wondering why they hadn't felt the effects themselves. Tyre was kicked, punched and abused for several minutes and then left sitting up in a corner without having medical assistance rendered, even though fire department personnel and EMTs arrived at the scene. Yet, Tyre sat against the wall, soaked in blood.
Finally, an ambulance arrived on the scene and removed Tyre. Throughout the incident, the five police officers continued to speak very loudly to each other, to Tyre and to those who arrived on the scene.
To any seasoned law enforcement officer, it is obvious that no one at the scene was in charge. Despite a heavy police presence, there was no designated supervisor for the unit.
The Scorpion squad struck hard. It was a failure. The five Scorpions were fired and probably have no idea why. They stopped a reckless driver, did their job and lost their jobs!
The incident led to protests, infrequent cries of racism and an unnatural presence of Black leaders who are normally on-stage calling for the conviction of white cops who purportedly abuse their power by targeting African Americans.
This crime shows that the Black community in any major city is relentless, and more abusive to its own people than white cops ever are. Black-on-Black crime — especially among young Black men is most dangerous to the black community — both inside and outside of prison.
Finally, if this had been five white police officers, every major city in the U.S. would be burning, and protests would have continued at least until after the State of the Union.
If you beat a person to death for any reason, you have committed a heinous crime — whether you are white, Black or any other race. The race card has been played too many times. The time has come for hiring standards to be raised. Hire police officers that want to truly protect and serve all communities.
To the police officers who believe in America and our Constitution — let's heal the wounds, not make the cuts deeper.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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James to start with the healing of wounds in this great melting pot of America like you have suggested in your editorial please start with the media and the inappropriate and inaccurate reporting that is presented. I have turned a deaf ear and blind eye to the media.
Amen!
If the members of the team who beat Nichols knew or believed that he was having an affair with a fellow officer’s wife, might that constitute pre-meditated murder on their part?