Police Chief In Essex County Responds To Death Of Tyre Nichols

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After the video of a Tennessee police beating was released to the public Friday night, Maplewood Police Chief Albert Sally gave his thoughts Saturday.

Tyre Nichols, an aspiring photographer, was pulled over near his home on Jan. 7, but not charged with a crime. He died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, officials say. The police face second-degree murder charges.

See Nichols' photography here.

Chief Sally's Statement

I, as Chief and leader of the Maplewood Police Department, denounce the actions of the five
Memphis Police officers toward Tyre Nichols and any excessive force toward our citizens. I watched the body camera footage from Memphis Police Department and was disheartened by what I saw. I did not observe anything in the video that justifies the five officers' actions.
Humanity and training would dictate that an officer intervene when a fellow officer conducts
criminal activity and render aid to someone needing medical attention. The officers who
participated in this traffic stop decided not to use these practices. The officers were removed of
their duties and criminally charged.

The Maplewood Police Department is committed to the safety and concerns of the citizens. The
department will continue outreach to the community with our Community Engagement Unit. We are providing professional services to the public with transparency. The officers have received
training in the Use of Force policy and procedures set by the NJ Attorney General and the
department's Standard Operating Procedures. We will continue to train and educate in best
practices.

We are praying for the family and healing for the public.

Sincerely,

Chief A. Sally
Maplewood Police Department
Maplewood, NJ 07040