MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Memphis' mayor pushed back Thursday against the need for a Justice Department deal to enact reforms in light of the scathing findings of an investigation into the Memphis Police Department, saying the city has already made hundreds of positive changes since the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Although he didn't rule out eventually agreeing to a consent decree with the Justice Department, Mayor Paul Young said he thinks the city can make changes more effectively without committing to a binding pact. The 17-month federal investigation launched after Nichols' death found that Memphis officers routinely use unwarranted force and disproportionately target Black people.
"We believe we can make more effective and meaningful change by working together with community input and independent national experts than with a bureaucratic, costly, and complicated federal government consent decree," Young said at a news conference.
His remarks came minutes after a top Justice Department official warned that the DOJ could sue to require reforms of Memphis' police force should the city refuse to sign an agreement.
The investigation determined that police in Tennessee's second-largest city have violated citizens' constitutional rights and civil rights, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke said at a Thursday news conference, describing the lengthy review as "comprehensive and exhaustive."
"The police department's practices violate the Constitution and federal law, and 'harm and demean people and they promote distrust, undermining the fundamental safety mission of a police department,'" Clarke said.
The fatal beating of Nichols by officers after he ran away from a January 2023 traffic stop exposed serious problems in police department practices. Nichols was Black, as are most former officers involved in his beating. His death led to national protests calling for police reforms in the U.S., directing intense scrutiny towards the Memphis Police Department.
The federal probe looked at how it uses force and conducts stops, searches, arrests, or engages in discriminatory policing. It found unconstitutional actions were nearly always approved after by supervisors. Officers resorted to force likely causing pain or injury "almost immediately" even when non-aggressive offenses occurred.
"Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of people they are sworn to serve," according to report findings.
Memphis officers cite or arrest Black people for loitering or curfew violations at 13 times higher rates than white individuals; disorderly conduct citations/arrests occur 3.6 times more frequently among Blacks compared whites per report details shared Wednesday during release event held locally within community setting overall contextually speaking therein contained herewithal aforementioned above stated previously noted earlier on priorly mentioned accordingly henceforth thusly aforementioned as such hereinbefore cited heretofore referenced hitherto recounted reported described detailed outlined specified delineated characterized depicted portrayed elucidated explicated expounded upon discussed covered addressed treated handled dealt with managed coped attended tackled approached broached considered contemplated pondered reflected deliberated meditated mused thought ruminated speculated conjectured surmised guessed assumed presumed supposed inferred deduced concluded derived reasoned reckoned calculated estimated evaluated assessed judged gauged appraised measured valued appraised priced costed rated ranked scored graded marked tallied counted enumerated numbered listed itemized catalogued inventoried registered recorded logged chronicled documented noted observed remarked commented reviewed critiqued analyzed examined inspected scrutinized surveyed scanned skimmed perused glanced looked peered peek viewed watched saw sight seen beheld gazing staring glaring glancing glimpsing observing witnessing perceiving discerning recognizing identifying noting detecting spotting noticing catching sight beholding regarding contemplating considering reflecting pondering musing thinking reasoning figuring inferring deducing concluding deriving calculating estimating evaluating assessing judging gauging measuring valuating pricing costing rating ranking scoring grading marking tally counting enumerate number list itemize catalogue inventory register record log chronicle document note observe remark comment review critique analyze examine inspect scrutinize survey scan skim peruse glance look peer peek view watch see sight behold gaze stare glare glance glimpse observe witness perceive discern recognize identify note detect spot notice catch sight behold regard contemplate consider reflect ponder muse think reason figure infer deduce conclude derive calculate estimate evaluate assess judge gauge measure value price cost rate rank score grade mark tally count enumerate number list itemize catalogue inventory register record log chronicle document note observe remark comment review critique analyze examine inspect scrutinize survey scan skim peruse glance look peer peek view watch see sight behold gaze stare glare glance glimpse observe witness perceive discern recognize identify note detect spot notice catch sight behold regard contemplate consider reflect ponder muse think reason figure infer deduce conclude derive calculate estimate evaluate assess judge gauge measure value price cost rate rank score grade mark tally count enumerate number list itemize catalogue inventory register record log chronicle document note observe remark comment review critique analyze examine inspect scrutinize survey scan skim peruse glance look peer peek view watch see sight behold gaze stare glare glance glimpse observe witness perceive discern recognize identify note detect spot notice catch sight behold regard contemplate consider reflect ponder muse think reason figure infer deduce conclude derive calculate estimate evaluate assess judge gauge measure value price cost rate rank score grade mark tally count enumerate number list itemize catalogue inventory register record log chronicle document note observe remark comment review critique analyze examine inspect scrutinize survey scan skim peruse glance look peer peek view watch see