Faced with the scandal, the measure was quickly taken.
Memphis police announced on Saturday the dismantling of the special unit involved in the fatal beating in early January of Tire Nichols, whose video shocked the United States.
Tennessee city law enforcement said in a statement that it is "in everyone's interest to permanently dismantle the Scorpion unit."
“The police officers currently assigned to the unit have given their agreement,” adds the text.
The family of Tyre Nichols welcomed this decision via a statement from his lawyers, deeming it "both appropriate and proportionate to the tragic death of Tyre Nichols" but also "decent and fair for all the citizens of Memphis".
Five police officers charged with murder
The five police officers involved were dismissed, charged with murder and imprisoned.
Four of them were later released on bail.
While saying they were horrified, the family of Tire Nichols said on Friday they were "satisfied" with the charges brought against the five men and praised the "speed" of the measures taken against them.
The video released by the police shows an unbearable beating after a banal traffic stop on January 7 in Memphis.
With punches, kicks, truncheons, the police go after the 29-year-old young man, spray him with tear gas and aim at him with a Taser electric shock gun.
VIDEO.
Fatal arrest of Tire Nichols: the video that shocks the United States
At no time do we see Tire Nichols retaliate.
He tries to run away, is caught.
" Mom.
Mom.
Mom !
“, he shouts in one of the extracts.
Tire Nichols died three days later in a Memphis hospital.
Gatherings continue
The shocking images of the fatal arrest have aroused horror and misunderstanding in the United States, without yet causing the social explosion similar to that of the summer of 2020 feared by the authorities.
Since his death in early January, his family has repeatedly called for calm.
And ahead of the early Friday evening release of the video, which was picked up live and uncut by major television stations, President Joe Biden called out his mother and stepfather and urged peaceful protests.
Rallies ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred people were held Friday night in several cities, including Memphis, New York and Washington.
Several dozen protesters gathered Saturday afternoon outside Memphis City Hall.
To the sounds of "No justice, no peace" and with signs demanding "Justice for Tire Nichols", protesters then marched through the streets of the city.
