Multiple former Memphis police officers condemned the policing tactics of their own department during high-profile testimony this week in the federal trial against three officers who participated in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7, 2023, after a traffic stop. One officer spoke about the shame of his involvement in that attack.
Ex-Memphis police officer Emmitt Martin III said he could not “sit here and live with a lie” as prosecutors questioned him on why he decided to plead guilty to violating Nichols’ civil rights. Three of his colleagues did not and now stand trial: Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith and Demetrius Haley are charged with civil rights violations and federal conspiracy charges.
Martin was one of two officers to plead guilty to charges just weeks before the start of the federal trial in Memphis; he pleaded guilty to excessive force and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. Former officer Desmond Mills pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and…