After the publication of a video by the Memphis police showing the brutal beating of 29-year-old Tire Nichols by five officers of said corporation on January 7, actions that caused his death when he was returning to his mother's house San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus called the facts indefensible and disgusting.
"What we saw on that video was indefensible, disgusting and incomprehensible," Corpus said in a series of tweets posted via the Sheriff's Office Twitter account. "This is a sad day for Mr. Nichols' family and our nation."
The five Memphis police officers were fired from the department this week and charged with second-degree murder, among other crimes.
The release of police officers' body camera videos shows the heinous nature of the assault on Nichols, which led to his death. "What I saw those officers do to Tire Nichols is deeply disturbing, and their actions stain our profession."
In the series of recordings from the agents' body cameras and which reach 60 minutes, it is observed how they try to immobilize Nichols next to his car, which manages to get free and escape on foot. However, minutes later he is caught up after a chase and that is when they begin to attack him with punches, blows, clubs and kicks, as well as electric gun discharges.
"I condemn what is seen in this video in the strongest possible terms. The actions of these officers greatly damaged the trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve," added the sheriff.
“I will redouble my commitment to serve, protect and engage with our communities with compassion, respect, integrity and dignity. As I have said, we must work together as a community for change,” Corpus stressed. "But I asked that we do it peacefully and with respect for Mr. Nichols in communities across this country who are fighting to make sense of this senseless act."
For its part, the San Mateo Police Department offered condolences to the Tire Nichols family in a statement.
“The San Mateo Police Department offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Nichols' family, friends and the Memphis community. While we have made great strides in our community to address social injustice, the death of a young African-American man highlights the necessary work that must be done to ensure that all members of our society receive fair and equal treatment under the law and the system. of criminal justice," he stressed.
Similarly, he noted that, for the San Mateo community, "the actions of five Memphis law enforcement officers tarnish the insignia of all police officers in the United States."
Know that we stand with you against police brutality and are working every day to raise the bar for the police profession. As we've shown with our Real Talk San Mateo series, we welcome a conversation to talk about policing and how we can do it better."
In turn, they detailed that if the San Mateo community wishes to invite the Police Department to their next community meeting, virtual meeting or meeting, the organizers can send an email to pdpio@cityofsanmateo.org.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
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