Acting State Police Superintendent Weighs in on Tennessee Man’s Death

The New York State Police’s Acting Superintendent is weighing in on the death of a black man killed by police officers in Memphis Tennessee.

After viewing video of the incident involving Tyre Nichols, who was beat to death by five Memphis police officers following a traffic stop earlier this month, Acting Superintendent Steven Nigrelli said in a press release his agency condemns the officers’ actions and sees it a detrimental to the relationship between police forces across the nation and the populaces they are sworn to protect.

His full statement can be viewed below:

Having reviewed the video of the incident involving Tyre Nichols, we strongly condemn the attack carried out by those five former members of the Memphis Police Department. Their actions are damaging to the work that has been done to rebuild trust between police and the communities they serve. We are outraged and sickened, and we also understand the frustration being felt by the public.

Integrity is a core value of the New York State Police. We train our members to treat people with respect, to show compassion and empathy, and to safeguard their rights.   While we sometimes find ourselves in dangerous and unpredictable situations, we have absolutely no tolerance for any excessive use of force, and any Troopers who violate our policies and break the law will always be held fully accountable.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Nichols family, and we remain committed to serving New Yorkers while showing dignity and respect for everyone.

State Police will be monitoring any developments and will be ready to respond to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers.