The five Memphis police officers who have been charged with murder in the beating death of Tyre Nichols were members of a police team by the name of “Scorpion.”
The title of the police team is a subtle reminder that police officers, both as portrayed in movies and television dramas as well as in real life, are no nonsense “take names and kick ass” officers. You can bet as a police supervisor, if you have to pick a name for your team, it won’t be Butterflies or Kittens. It has to be something that fits what you are trying to present to your officers and to the general public that fits the mindset and expectations.
The name is nothing more than a name, but it is a clear indication of the macho mentality that is a substantial part of the problem.
Having worked in police departments for more than 35 years, I have experienced and recognized the high value placed on individual police officers to be viewed by their peers as strong, “stand up,” officers who will cover their fellow officers, and who can be counted on during any crisis.
In the military, in combat, in police departments, when responding to calls that an officer needs help, these values are ingrained in the hearts and minds of recruits and are ingrained in police organizations.
Just ask a recruit officer: “Would you like to be assigned to the SWAT team or to the community policing team?” “Would you rather be a school resource officer or assigned to the SWAT team?”
This is a systemic mind set and is a problem entrenched in police departments. Assignments to community policing or as a school resource officer are viewed as superficial policing in the minds of most of America’s police officers. Remember the adage: “Does life imitate art or does art imitate life.”
There are other factors involved in the murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but the imitation of art might be a factor that cost the lives of these young African American men in America by America’s police.
Robert C. Wadman, professor emeritus, Criminal Justice Department, Weber State University