'I Am Horrified' By Tyre Nichols' Death: Chatham Police Chief

CHATHAM, NJ — The Chatham Borough Police Department issued a statement this weekend strongly condemning what Chief Brian Gibbons called the "excessive use of force" of five Memphis police officers charged with murder after beating a man following a traffic stop earlier this month.

Tyre Nichols, 29, died on Jan. 10, three days after a confrontation with officers during a traffic stop.

The five police officers involved in the incident were fired and have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes.

Read More: DA: 5 Memphis Cops 'All Responsible' For Tyre Nichols' Death

"I am horrified by the video exposing the excessive use of force by Memphis law enforcement against Tyre Nichols, ultimately resulting in his death, and the ensuing callousness exhibited by first responders on scene," Gibbons said.

According to the Associated Press, Memphis police released more than an hour of video of Nichols' violent beating on Friday, in which officers held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him as he screamed for his mother.

"I assure you that the well-trained Chatham Borough Police Department has policies, procedures, directives, and systems in place to monitor and ensure this does not happen here, but more importantly…Chatham Borough police officers and the greater Morris County law enforcement community maintain a culture of empathy and compassion that simply forbids this type of inhumane conduct," Gibbons said.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office stated that the video of Nichols' death will understandably elicit grief, horror and anger within the community.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll emphasized the office's efforts to build rapport with the community and maintain an open dialogue with civic and religious organizations about law enforcement and criminal justice system issues.

"The Chatham Borough Police Department and remaining 99.9 percent of the country’s professional and caring law enforcement community, grieves with Tyre Nichols' family and friends," Gibbons said.

Ahead of the release of the video, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis said she was "disgusted," after watching the body camera footage of the traffic stop that led to Nichols' death, which she described as "heinous, reckless, and inhumane treatment of a man."

"The incident in Memphis is not a reflection of the good and ceaseless work of our law enforcement members. We realize emotions are running high during what are already challenging times, and ask the public to maintain a sense of perspective in their response to this tragedy," Carroll said.