Senator Carper’s Statement on the Death of Tyre Nichols

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after video footage from the Memphis Police Department was released:

“Tyre Nichols should still be alive today.

“Last night, I watched the horrific video of Tyre’s death at the hands of five Memphis police officers. It was particularly devastating to watch Tyre, a 29-year-old father, son, and friend to so many, call out for his mother as he was beaten and brutalized by the five officers. As a parent, my heart is broken, and my prayers are with Tyre’s family and community during this time of unfathomable pain.

“Being a police officer is difficult and dangerous work, and the overwhelming majority of police officers help keep us safe and serve our communities honorably. But in all my years of public life, including eight years as governor working directly with Delaware’s many state, county, and local police departments, I have never seen such a brazen disregard for human life as I saw from the police officers in this video.

“While a swift investigation by Memphis police and Shelby County prosecutors has already resulted in both the firing of these five officers and second-degree murder charges, the reality is that this incident—police officers taking the life of yet another unarmed Black man—was entirely preventable. I renew and echo President Biden’s call for working together in Washington to reform policing in America in a way that restores trust and saves lives. Moreover, in the First State, I will continue to work with our Congressional Delegation, Governor Carney, state and local officials, police officers, and community leaders to support increased accountability and other commonsense reforms, including equipping every police officer in Delaware with a body-worn camera.”