The Memphis City Council passed several major police reform ordinances Wednesday, two months after the beating death of Tire Nichols rocked the city and sparked national outrage.
Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, died after a traffic stop on January 7, and five Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder in his death. almost a dozen other police officers and firefighters also face charges.
Under the new laws, Memphis police will be prohibited from conducting routine traffic stops with unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers, though the department will be allowed to use unmarked cars in “exigent circumstances” when someone is driving recklessly, unless speeding or may have committed a felony. .
The council mandated that police regularly report data on traffic stops, arrests and complaints. If there is a complaint of use of force against the police, the new law requires an independent investigation. It also gives the local civilian review board the ability to audit the police department.
The votes came after a heated debate during the meeting. Most of the speakers were in favor of reforms, although the speakers were largely divided along racial lines; all the speakers against the unmarked car ordinance, for example, were white.
In January, Republicans in the state house introduced legislation youThat would eliminate civilian oversight boards across the state, potentially jeopardizing a key part of the reforms.
But city officials were not deterred from going ahead. “If someone is going to kill (the review board), it shouldn’t be the Memphis City Council,” said Councilman JB Smiley Jr.
Additionally, the council voted to establish independent review processes for Memphis police in cases of unnecessary or excessive force.
The new law enters into force once signed by the president of the Municipal Council and delivered to the mayor’s office.
Last year, Philadelphia became the first big city to prohibit police from pulling over drivers for minor infractions, such as missing a brake light or an expired inspection sticker.
Nichols, who was unarmed at the time of his death, tried to flee on foot from a police traffic stop, but officers caught him 800 feet from his parents’ home. Surveillance video and police body camera footage showed at least five officers beating Nichols. He was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later.
Officers initially said Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving, but the department later said there was no evidence he was driving recklessly.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said an investigation is continuing into other officers who may have been involved in Nichols’ arrest.
