2 Deputies Suspended in Tyre Nichols Case Didn’t Activate Body Cameras

The screen at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans honors Tyre Nichols before an NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Washington Wizards, Jan. 28, 2023. Matthew Hinton/File/AP Photo

Two sheriff’s deputies, who have been suspended for five days for their role in the arrest of Tyre Nichols, failed to keep their body cameras activated after they went to the location where Memphis city police severely beat Nichols, authorities said on Wednesday.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies Jeremy Watkins and Johntavious Bowers each violated multiple policies after they reported to the location of Nichols’ violent arrest on Jan. 7, Sheriff Floyd Bonner said in a statement.

According to their disciplinary reports, the two deputies tried to hide that they were on the scene and they didn’t let supervisors know they were at the incident, ABC24 reported.

Memphis lies within Shelby County, Tennessee, and while city police usually have jurisdiction within city limits, county sheriff’s deputies may also respond.

“Based on the Sheriff’s Office current belief that there will be no charges from the TBI [Tennessee Bureau of Investigation] and District Attorney’s Office investigation/review, the SCSO believes it is appropriate to release the outcomes of the internal review at this time,” the sheriff’s department said.

The department did not specify what the deputies did or neglected to do to warrant the suspension. However, it listed the regulations they violated, including radio communication procedures, mobile video recording system procedures, and patrol field job duties and responsibilities.

The two deputies’ unpaid suspension started on Wednesday (Feb. 15) and will last for five days.

Violent Arrest

On Jan. 7, Nichols, 29, fled a traffic stop but was caught near his home by Memphis Police Department officers.

Police video footage showed that the officers punched him, kicked him, and hit him with a baton. Several law enforcement officers were seen standing around as Nichols struggled with serious injuries while he sat on the ground, propped up against a police car.

Nichols was hospitalized and died three days later at a hospital from the injuries, according to police.

Five officers from the Memphis Police Department accused of beating Nichols were fired. They are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.

One other Memphis officer has been fired but not charged criminally for his role in the traffic stop.

Shelby County Judge James Jones set a May 1 date for the next hearing in the case against the officers, who face a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison if convicted of the murder charge.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.