Memphis Fire Department Fires Three Emergency Responders For Failing to Provide Adequate Medical Care to Tyre Nichols
The Memphis Fire Department on Monday fired three emergency responders who responded to the scene after 5 Memphis police officers beat motorist Tyre Nichols.
The Fire Department’s investigation found that the EMTs “failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols.”
Fox 13 Memphis reported:
Three Memphis Fire Department personnel were fired Monday in connection to the death of Tyre Nichols.
MFD identified the employees as EMTs Robert Long and JaMichaeal Sandridge and Lt. Michelle Whitaker.
MFD was dispatched about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 7 to “a person pepper sprayed” at the intersection of East Raines and Ross roads, the department said in a news release.
The firefighters were then redirected to Ross Road and Castlegate, where Nichols was found handcuffed on the ground leaning against a police vehicle, MFD said. The department’s investigation found that two EMTs “failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols,” and that the EMTs along with Whitaker violated “numerous” department policies and protocols.
“Their actions or inactions on the scene that night do not meet the expectations of the Memphis Fire Department and are not reflective of the outstanding service the men and women of the Memphis Fire Department provide daily in our community,” MFD said in a statement.
Five ex-Memphis police officers were charged with second-degree murder and kidnapping last Thursday in the death of black motorist, Tyre Nichols.
The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – were fired on Friday after the motorist, Tyre Nichols, died following a violent confrontation during a January 7 traffic stop.
Authorities on Friday evening released bodycam footage of five Memphis police officers beating motorist Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop.
A sixth Memphis police officer was relieved of his duty for his involvement in the Tyre Nichols fatal beating.
Preston Hemphill was relieved of his duty pending investigation.
