The Tennessee Health Department suspends the license of two EMTs who did not provide the proper aid to Tyre Nichols.
According to the Associated Press, the Tennessee Health board announced that additional disciplinary actions were taken against Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge.
Long and Sandridge were on the scene of the the traffic stop last month, which ended with Nichols being badly injured. During the incident, Nichols was handcuffed and unable to sit up on his own or speak. The EMTs initially refused to help Nichols but later tended to his needs after 20 minutes.
Nichols was left with critical injuries, including kidney failure and internal bleeding. Nichols passed away three days later.
Following the incident, the two EMTs and Memphis Fire Department Lt. Michelle Whitaker was put on a suspension. However, the three individuals were later terminated.
The health department says the first responders violated multiple policies and protocols.
“Their actions or inactions on the scene that night do not meet the expectations of the Memphis Fire Department,” the health department said in a statement. “And are not reflective of the outstanding service the men and women of the Memphis Fire Department provide daily in our community.”
Since the heartbreaking event, seven Memphis police officers have received disciplinary actions, with five men being terminated for their involvement in the assault.
On Friday, officer Preston Hemphill was fired after it was revealed he violated multiple policies. In addition, Hemphill was caught on his bodycam saying “I hope they stomp his a**,” after Nichols tried to escape on foot.
Nevertheless, authorities says the investigation surrounding Nichols’ death is still ongoing.
