Congressman Cohen Welcomes Department of Justice Review of Memphis Police Department Use of Force

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who represents Memphis in the House of Representatives and is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today welcomed the decision by the Department of Justice to review the Memphis Police Department’s policy and practice on the use of force. Trye Nichols died after a brutal encounter with Memphis police on January 7, 2023. 

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Tyre Nichols’ brutal beating stunned the nation and serves as an egregious example of police misconduct and the need to improve public safety practices. I welcome the Department of Justice’s examination of Memphis Police Department’s programs and policies. Every Memphian deserves to live in a city that prioritizes safety and has a police department that lives up to its promise of protecting and serving the community. This review, and the policy and training changes that may come of it, will support the vast majority of MPD officers who are dedicated public servants who work in dangerous and unpredictable circumstances.”

Congressman Cohen has been active in efforts to reform policing and in attempting to improve relations between law enforcement and the citizens it serves. He is a strong supporter of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which passed the House in 2021 with measures he authored including the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, the Police CAMERA Act, and Police Training and Independent Review Act.

# # #