For those readers who requested my take on the brutal beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five members of the Memphis Police Department…

(1)  Once again, we see a police stop of a citizen spin out of control when a suspect appears to refuse to follow police commands, resists arrest, or flees the scene. However, it should be noted that Nichols was given contrary commands and could not have possibly complied with all of them.

(2)  The five police officers should face charges and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the unnecessarily brutal beating of a suspect after he appeared to be unarmed, relatively passive, and subduable. These were "big" seasoned officers, and the amount of overwhelming force seemed unnecessary since there is no clear threat to their lives.  This appears to be pure police rage.

(3)  Police training supervisors need to be terminated, as we saw a group of officers, lacking clear leadership and individual professionalism, shouting obscenities and conflicting orders, and acting like a mob.

(4)  The two Memphis Fire Department EMTs need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for failing to render immediate aid to a non-responsive patient.

(5)  Attorney Benjamin Crump should be cautioned about inciting violence with his over-the-top inflammatory rhetoric as he pursues another multi-million dollar payday,

(6)  Antifa and Black Lives Matter individuals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as domestic terrorists if they use protestors as a cover for their nefarious activities. How is it that the Department of Justice and the FBI haven't taken down these Marxist revolutionaries trying to create a race war? 

(7)  Rioters, arsonists, and looters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and denied plea bargains.

(8)  Politicians should promote the law rather than engage in political pandering.

(9)  Let us hope that our legal system works without political interference and posturing.

In the final analysis, there was no race issue, and nothing Nichols did justifies this type of treatment at the hands of the officers operating under the color of authority. I also believe he may have been in a panic and running for his life when he took off. 

I feel sorry for Nichols and his Mother, and the rest of his family.

Bottom line…

What happened to an American citizen, Tyre Nichol, at the hands of police officers is inexcusable. Not only were Nichol's civil rights violated, but the level of police depravity is almost beyond comprehension. After listening to the tapes numerous times, I thought the commands Nichols was given were contradictory, and there was no way he could have complied.  It is almost as if the police staged a deliberate beat-down because they were forced to pursue a fleeing suspect.  

A tragic event, but you do not blame an entire group for the actions of one or more out-of-control individuals.

We are so screwed.

-- Steve