Two officers arrested in death of Tyre Nichols joined MPD with lowered entry requirements

The Memphis Police Department softened entry requirements due to an officer shortage. It even offered $15,000 to applicants as an incentive.

Los cinco agentes del Departamento de Policía de Memphis (MPD) acusados de la muerte de Tyre Nichols. — (Memphis Police Dept.)

Published by

Alejandro Baños

31 de enero, 2023

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The Memphis Police Department (MPD) announced the suspension of a seventh officer related to the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 10. In addition, they announced the permanent disbandment of SCORPION, the unit to which they belonged, at the request of the deceased's family. Now, NBC News reports that two of these officers joined the force after the MPD lowered its entry requirements.

The report refers specifically to Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley. Both officers had been with the department since August 2020, a year when the MPD's prerequisite educational and physical standards were more flexible. For example, the MPD eliminated the requirement of an associate's degree or completion of 54 college credit hours. In addition, it was no longer necessary to take the timed physical capacity test. It is also known that the MPD offered $15,000 as an incentive to those joining the police force between 2021 and 2022.

These measures were the result of a serious problem faced by the MPD: an officer shortage. In fact, people convicted of felonies were offered exemption to enlist, as reported in the New York Post.

Current requirements

Being guilty of a felony does not disqualify candidates from the selection process, as they may be granted exemptions. However, it is mandatory to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, be at least 21 years of age, not have been expelled from the Armed Forces, pass the psycho-technical and clinical tests, pass a background check to verify any criminal record, and have a valid driver's license, per the MPD web page.

Educational conditions include:

- Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent and twenty-four (24) semester hours obtained from a regionally (e.g. MSCHE, NECCU, NCA, etc.) or nationally (e.g. DETC, COE, ACCSC, etc.) accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Accreditation.

- Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent and two (2) years work experience (full-time, part-time, or contract or any verifiable work experience) within five (5) years from class start date.

- Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent and two (2) years active or reserve military experience within five (5) years from class start date.

Finally, applicants to join the MPD must meet character requirements such as honesty, dignity and respect, and have no history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Accused of participating in a beating

In 2016, former Agent Haley was a corrections officer with the Shelby County Department of Corrections. That same year, Cordarlrius Sledge, a prisoner, sued him in the U.S. District Court for Western Tennessee for beating him along with two other officers.

Two years later, a judge ruled that Sledge failed to properly serve the subpoena on one of the defendants because he filed the lawsuit without the assistance of an attorney, and the case was ultimately dismissed.