Congressman Cohen Welcomes New Department of Justice Report on Specialized Units
Study was prompted by the killing of Tyre Nichols
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) asked the Department of Justice and its COPS program to come to Memphis in early September 2022 after the abduction and murder of St. Mary’s kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher and, days later, the shooting rampage by Ezekiel Kelly, some of which was livestreamed. Congressman Cohen requested federal resources to support and improve the Memphis Police Department.
Earlier this week, the Department’s National Policing Institute released guidelines on specialized police units. The Memphis Police Department’s specialized unit, dubbed SCORPION, beat Tyre Nichols to death last January.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“I appreciate the Department of Justice’s speedy response to my request that it address what was a deteriorating crime situation. The guidelines released this week will make the Memphis Police Department and law enforcement agencies across the country more effective – and accountable to their communities – when confronting violent crime.
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