The personnel files of the five Memphis police officers charged with second-degree murder in the death of Nichols Tyre were obtained by Action 5 News.
Four of the officers were disciplined for a range of infractions, including reckless driving, failure to fill out paperwork, and use of force.
In 2017, Desmond Mills Junior, who had previously worked at five different correctional facilities, was employed by the Memphis police after graduating from West Virginia State University.
In 2019, he was given a written reprimand by MPD records for not submitting a response to resistance form after apprehending a woman.
The policy of the MPD mandates that officers complete documentation if any form of physical coercion is necessary to ensure compliance.
Mills was given another reprimand in 2019 after misplacing his Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a portable computer device. Investigators informed Mills that it slipped out of his pocket while he was entering his patrol car and got run over by another vehicle.
During the hearing, a supervisor from the MPD stated that Officer Mills was a diligent and enthusiastic worker, who belonged to the younger group of officers on the shift.
According to MPD, Justin Smith caused a three-car collision after driving recklessly to respond to a call. MPD internal documents reveal that he was mandated to attend remedial driving school and was also given a two-day suspension without receiving any pay in July 2021. Memphis police employed him in 2018.
Emmitt Martin, a graduate of Bethel University who started working with the Memphis police in March 2018, received a three-day suspension in June 2019 while still on probation as an officer for failing to conduct a search before arresting a suspect and taking him to jail.
A pistol was discovered on the rear seat of Martin’s police car after his duty.
Using a flashlight, he solely peered through the rear window, refraining from conducting a thorough examination of his vehicle, and informed investigators that he acknowledged responsibility.
In September 2020, Martin was given a one-day suspension for failing to report a case of domestic violence.
During his hearing, a supervisor called Martin, who is at the top of the production chain, said that shifting the responsibility onto his character is a way of shirking his own responsibilities.
In the performance evaluation for 2021, Martin stated that he “demonstrates respect when interacting with others… Approaches phone conversations with a optimistic mindset, and is warmly received when interacting with the general public.”
The same assessment mentioned that Martin “is a three-year officer operating at the same standard as more experienced seasoned officers.”
Haley Demetrius was hired by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) in August 2020, even though his previous application for a job with the police in Memphis was rejected due to redacted records that were reviewed by 5 News Action.
His prior experience in law enforcement includes Shelby County Corrections as his employer.
In 2021, Haley received a written reprimand from the MPD for failing to file a response in the form of resistance during the arrest of a woman involved in a shooting.
She submitted a grievance to the MPD asserting that her arm was forcefully contorted behind her back while she was being restrained, causing harm to her shoulder.
During his hearing, a manager stated “Officer Haley is a diligent officer who consistently makes sound judgments.”
The internal charge was disregarded. In an effort to assist another officer, Haley collided with a stop sign after losing control of his police vehicle during that exact year.
“Haley Officer is one of the officers working hardest, and Haley Officer is very respectful. The supervisor stated that the department needs several more officers like Haley.”