Tyre Nichols' Death Was 'Disturbing': Washington Township Officials

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Police Chief Jeffrey Almer released a statement condemning the "disturbing" police beating death of Memphis man Tyre Nichols following the release of body camera footage last week.

Nichols, an aspiring photographer, was pulled over near his home on Jan. 7, but not charged with a crime. He died three days after being beaten by Memphis police officers, officials say.

The five officers face second-degree murder charges.

Authorities in Memphis released more than an hour of footage Friday of the violent beating of Nichols, in which officers held the Black motorist down and struck him repeatedly as he screamed for his mother, the Associated Press reported.

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

"I have been in law enforcement for nearly 28 years, and I am sickened by what I saw. I saw a lack of basic humanity, lack of professionalism, lack of training, lack of supervision and oversight, lack of compassion, lack of control, lack of leadership, and lack of empathy," said Almer on Monday. "To see officers who are sworn to serve and protect act in such a horrific manner, unsupervised and out of control, is inexcusable and beyond explanation. I gasped out loud as I watched what they did to someone who was not a threat to them, and then continue the beating to the point that he would pass just days later."

Almer also stated that police officers in Washington Township are extensively trained in de-escalation, proper use of force, arrest procedures, rendering aid, dealing with the mentally ill, less lethal tactics, and safe methods of taking people into custody for both the officer and the individual.

"There is no reason, no excuse for the horrific use of force used in the Memphis incident. Please know that type of behavior would never be tolerated here, and to be honest, would never even happen in the first place," Almer said.

"While I fully understand that some people like the police, and some do not, it is important to not lump all officers into the same group as those seen on the video," Almer said. "It is important to make it very clear, that the actions of these officers are not a reflection of the officers that serve you. The officers involved in Memphis lacked every possible skill set that we embed in our own, and they had no business wearing a badge."

Officials also stated that having the trust of all residents is a critical component to the success of the police department's partnership with the community.