Fact Check: The five officers involved in Tyre Nichols' death were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded weeks after Nichols died.

What We Know

The claim that the five officers involved in Tyre Nichols' death were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit is accurate. The Memphis Police Department's Scorpion Unit, which stands for "Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods," was established to address high-impact crimes in specific areas. This specialized unit was disbanded shortly after the incident involving Nichols, which occurred on January 7, 2023, and led to his death three days later in the hospital (BBC) (NPR). The decision to disband the unit was made in response to the actions of its officers, who were seen in video footage brutally beating Nichols (ABC News) (Forbes).

The five officers involved—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith—were subsequently fired and charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree murder (CBS News) (US News).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from multiple reputable sources. The BBC reported that the Scorpion Unit was disbanded as a direct consequence of the incident involving Tyre Nichols, with the Memphis Police Department stating that it was "in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate" the unit (BBC). NPR corroborated this by confirming that the unit was deactivated just days after the release of footage showing the violent arrest (NPR).

The sources used in this fact-check are credible and well-regarded in journalism. The BBC and NPR are both established news organizations known for their rigorous reporting standards. The information is consistent across various outlets, including ABC News and Forbes, which further strengthens the reliability of the claim (ABC News) (Forbes).

While some sources, such as CBS News and US News, also provide context about the officers' charges and the nature of the Scorpion Unit, they do not contradict the core claim regarding the unit's disbandment (CBS News) (US News). Overall, the evidence indicates a clear and consistent narrative about the officers' affiliation with the Scorpion Unit and the subsequent disbandment of that unit.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that the five officers involved in Tyre Nichols' death were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded weeks after Nichols died, is true. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the Scorpion Unit was indeed disbanded in response to the actions of its officers during the incident involving Nichols.

Fact Check: The five officers involved in Tyre Nichols' death were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded weeks after Nichols died.