Memphis Fire Department has fired three employees after they failed to provide Tyre Nichols with a “sufficient patient assessment” after he was beaten by police officers.
Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge of the emergency medical services and Lt. Michelle Whitaker of the fire department were initially called to administer medical treatment to Nichols after he was said to be pepper sprayed.
A statement from MFD read. “Our investigation has concluded that the two EMTs responded based on the initial nature of the call (person pepper sprayed) and information they were told on the scene and failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols. After their initial interaction with Mr. Nichols, they requested an ambulance to respond.”
According to the statement, Long and Sandridge arrived at the scene at 8:41 p.m., and an ambulance was dispatched at 8:46 p.m., arriving at 8:55 p.m. Nichols was taken to St. Francis Hospital at 9:08 p.m.
Whitaker remained in the engine the entire time.
“After concluding our internal investigation, it was determined that EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge, and Lt. Whitaker violated numerous MFD policies and protocols,” the statement read. “As a result, EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge, and Lt. Whitaker have been terminated from the Memphis Fire Department.”
Approximately 30 minutes of video showing Nichols being beaten at Castlegate and Bear Creek Lane was taken using a SkyCop camera. As Nichols tries to turn over, the camera shows two officers violently pushing him to the ground on his face. Afterward, a third officer appears to kick Nichols multiple times in the face.
The minutes stretch on as Nichols lies against the car, with more officers clustering around. At one point, Nichols appears to slump off of the car and lie fully on the ground. He rocks back and forth on the cement, with officers offering no aid.
Investigations into Nichols’ death resulted in seven Memphis Police officers being relieved of duty, including five former officers who were fired on Jan. 20. The five were indicted and currently face second-degree murder charges, along with assault and kidnapping charges.
