3 Memphis EMTs fired for their response to Tyre Nichols’ beating [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Memphis Fire Department fired three EMTs who responded to the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols.
• The fire department said the EMTs failed to follow multiple department policies and protocols in their patient response to Nichols on Jan. 7.
• In addition to the five Memphis police officers who’ve already been fired and charged, officials said that two more police officers had been put on leave.

The Memphis Fire Department announced Monday that three personnel have been fired for failing to provide Tyre Nichols an “adequate patient assessment” when they responded to the fatal police beating.

Initially, two emergency medical technicians, Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, and fire engine driver Lt. Michelle Whitaker were called to provide medical attention for Nichols after being pepper sprayed.

“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,” a statement from MFD read. “After their initial interaction with Mr. Nichols, they requested an ambulance to respond.”

Long and Sandridge, according to the statement, arrived at the scene at 8:41 p.m. and an ambulance was sent out at 8:46 p.m., arriving at 8:55 p.m. By 9:08 p.m., Nichols was taken to St. Francis hospital.

Whitaker stayed 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.”

A video of Nichols being beaten is silent, taken from a SkyCop camera at Castlegate and Bear Creek Lane is about 30 minutes long. The camera swivels to show two officers violently pushing Nichols to the ground on his face as he tries to turn over. Then, 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.

It is not until 28 minutes into the video that a stretcher is brought for Nichols.

Criminal charges have not been filed against the firefighters.

As a result of investigations into Nichols’ death, a total of seven Memphis Police officers were 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.

The sixth officer was Preston Hemphill and the seventh officer’s identity has not been released. But “actions and inactions” of Hemphill and another officer “have been and continue to be the subject of this investigation since its inception on January 8, 2023,” according to the police department. 

Source: NBC News