Officer on scene of Tyre Nichols’ death retired day before dismissal hearing

A lawyer for Mr Nichols’ family said the department should not have let Lt DeWayne Smith “cowardly sidestep the consequences of his actions”.

The screen at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans honours Tyre Nichols before an NBA basketball game (Matthew Hinton/AP/PA)

By Associated Press Reporters

The Memphis police supervisor on the scene when Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by officers retired with his benefits the day before a hearing to sack him, according to documents filed to revoke his law enforcement certification.

Lt DeWayne Smith was identified in records obtained by media outlets as the officer that officials said earlier this month had retired before his termination hearing.