Beverly Chief 'Sickened' By Memphis Police Killing Of Tyre Nichols

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur issued a statement Thursday saying that he and the department were "sickened by the grotesque actions" of the five Memphis police officers involved with the killing of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols following a traffic stop earlier this month.

LeLacheur noted that he put out a statement last week on behalf of the Massachusetts State Chiefs of Police but that he was "ill" and that was the reason he did not also put out a personal statement of condemnation earlier.

Several other North Shore police chiefs and departments released their statements on Friday and Saturday after police bodycam footage from Jan. 7 of the vicious beating was publicly released.

Nichols died from the injuries he sustained in the beating three days later.

The five officers involved with the beating were charged with second-degree murder, while additional police and emergency medical personnel were suspended or fired for their actions — or lack thereof — in connection with Nichols' death.

"I feel it is very important for all to know," LeLacheur said, "the Beverly Police Department and myself were sickened by the grotesque actions by the officers and first responders in Memphis. The officers' behavior went against every principle of the law enforcement profession and they lost the trust of the citizens they serve.

"The Beverly Police Department strives each day to build partnerships and trust in our community. We remain committed in making sure our city and community remain safe for all our citizens."

The Memphis Police Department said this past weekend it was disbanding the"Scorpion" unit on which the five officers served. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith each face up to 60 years in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)