2. Officers and PSTs are out helping citizens in need, and assisting with traffic control at intersections where lights out or trees and or powerlines are down. RON CHILDERS. At one point, officers leaned over Nichols and were in his face, saying loudly that the patient is not going anywhere and that they are not going to uncuff him, impeding patient care," according to Long. Phone: 901-636-6000. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, one was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition and a fourth person was taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition. Police said a 17-year-old, one of the shooting . And we must recognize that and do something about it., In a statement Saturday, attorneys Romanucci and Ben Crump praised the decision to deactivate the specialized unit as appropriate and proportional to the tragic death of Tyre Nichols, and also a decent and just decision for all citizens of Memphis., We hope that other cities take similar action with their saturation police units in the near future to begin to create greater trust in their communities. One of which is the suspect, according to police. 2. The intent was good, the end result was a failure, he continued. In the North Memphis neighborhood that is home to his church, Floyd sees opportunity. Eventually, Nichols stopped moving and became unresponsive, Long said. appreciated. Boosting staffing was a major goal of Memphis police Director Cerelyn Davis when she took over in June 2021, with her department announcing it was aiming to increase staff from 2,100 to 2,500 . It's been almost two months since the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis Fire Department also announced Monday that it fired two EMTs and a lieutenant who responded to the scene for failing to properly assess Nichols as he lay beaten on the ground. Warning: This story contains disturbing images. 2023 Cable News Network. Five police officers have pleaded not guilty in his fatal beating. A Warner Bros. Memphis Police Dept. Neither man has been criminally charged. That part of me is almost afraid to be hopeful, because I don't I don't want to be disappointed. The new MPD headquarters at 170 North Main Street, was opened in 2017. The department also revealed that was even offering waivers for people who have been convicted on felony charges. JOYCE PETERSON. In 1979, the city admitted that written tests used in the police hiring and promotion process had a disparate impact on blacks. Uniform patrol is divided into the geographic areas of Tillman Station (Central Precinct), North Main Station (Downtown Precinct), Appling Farms Station (Northeast Precinct), Crump Station (West Precinct), Mt. According to a Memphis Police Department incident report, officers responded to a simple assault call at the Cordova mall around noon on July 22, 2022. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much They find real criminals by traffic violations. My observation is that, you know, we have several contributing factors. It is not clear what led to the shooting in South Memphis Monday, and police released no information on who may have been involved. When Bennett was about 3 years old, her father was killed by police. Pastor Ricky Floyd, who's been shot and carjacked himself, doesn't want funds diverted away from police, especially when crime in Memphis is up by a third over last year. Released video footage of Memphis police officers beating Tyre Nichols with approved audio. "The DA's Office worked extraordinarily swiftly but thoroughly to charge those whose offenses were plain and clear and directly contributed to the death of Mr. Nichols, but in no way is this investigation over," the office added. They voted to keep the summary suspension in effect. they said in a statement. Winds light and variable.. Clear. All complaints are thoroughly investigated, and findings reported to the Memphis Police Department. It certainly begs the question why the white officer involved in this brutal attack was shielded and protected from the public eye, and to date, from sufficient discipline and accountability. He also testified that he believed Nichols didnt want to be treated, claiming he refused medical care by rolling away when he or Sandridge attempted to take his vitals, but did not verbally say not to treat him. Officials have said 27 minutes elapsed from the time the EMTs arrived on the scene to the moment the ambulance left for the hospital. Require officers to de-escalate situations, where possible, by communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use force. Disbanding that unit does not disband that mind-set. Jones also wants a better understanding of the role of those specialized units before he calls for their elimination. The Memphis Police Department provides police services to more than 650,000 citizens of Memphis and visitors in a 315 square-mile area.Mission: To create and maintain public safety in the City of Memphis. Staff representation by race is 52 percent African American/Black, 47 percent White, and one percent Hispanic. White House Correspondent Laura Barrn-Lpez recently spent time in Memphis to explore where the city goes from here. Body-camera video shows officers handcuffing an unarmed man while a police dog continues to maul him. Holloway also noted that Long was the lowest ranking EMT on the scene, and the other two fire department employees who had more years of experience failed to step in to help. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told CNN one challenge for prosecutors will be proving the defendants knowingly killed Nichols - which under state law means "they acted in such a . An ambulance arrived at the scene and then directed to the second location where the cops encountered Nichols, the fire department said. 2023 Cable News Network. The first African American officers were hired in 1948, twenty years before the 1968 Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis which sparked riots and curfews across the city. [17] The Memphis Police Association opposed the change, saying "citizens deserve quality officers", and described the change as "lowering the standards". But I do think that there needs to be some cultural shifts. MPD Police StationsThere are currentlynine Police Stations in the Memphis area. AllSides Picks. The . I did a visual assessment of the patient and there was nothing that indicated to me that he was critical, with the information that I knew, Long said. The board met to further discuss Longs license suspensions. [8] In 2006, a court ruled the 2002 test violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and "28 plaintiffs with passing exam scores and sufficient work experience were promoted"; a decision reversed in 2014 by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Read MoreThousands in the dark as MLGW works to restore power, JACKSON, Miss. Following the killing of Tyre Nichols, Franklin, a 36-year-old community organizer, thinks change won't come from the Memphis Police Department. Read More'I'm going to give you a big hug:' Patrolmen comfort, persuade suicidal man off of bridge. The Memphis Police Department has relieved of duty a sixth police officer who was involved in the investigation into Tyre Nichols' death this month. WATCH: Teen charged after mass shooting in South Memphis, police say. US Department of the Navy. Upon arriving on the scene, Long said an MPD officer told him he had been pepper sprayed by his partner, but they had a person in custody who may need their help. White House correspondent Laura Barrn-Lpez recently spent some time in Memphis to explore where the city goes from here. It extends so much further.. A taskforce will evaluate concerns and suggestions. I would rather lose that five minutes than for somebody else to lose their life. Police said a 17-year-old, one of the shooting victims, was treated, released and charged with second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of employ of a firearm during a dangerous felony. We want to listen and do the work to improve our Memphis Police Department. . Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center , Shelby County 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline . Redd served in the Marine Corps before joining the Memphis Police Department in 2008. The Memphis Police Department is a law enforcement agency in Tennessee in the United States. In 1992, Sergeant Jim Nichols, assigned to MPD Research & Development, formed a non-profit organization that raised money to allow MPD to become one of the first law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to utilize computers in a networks systems, where each detective, as well as the executive administration, had a computer on their desk to assist in writing up reports, running background checks, send and receive an email as well as other administrative needs relating to law enforcement. Videos 2, 3, and 4 are video footage at the second location, a residential neighborhood. Attorney Darrell ONeal, who is representing Long, declined to offer any additional comment. Long said he approached Nichols and saw that he had a bump on his head, a busted lip and a dried bloody nose on both nostrils, but that he answered Tyre Nichols when asked his name. Nichols, 29, was pulled over by Memphis police officers on January 7 for suspected reckless driving, according to the department, when "a confrontation occurred" between officers and Nichols . A teenage boy is facing murder charges after a shooting in South Memphis Monday morning left two people dead, the Memphis Police Department said. He is cooperating with officials in this investigation.". The Memphis Police Department provides police services to more than 650,000 citizens of Memphis and visitors in a 315 square-mile area.Mission:To create and maintain public safety in the City of Memphis. And in a 2016 lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for Western Tennessee, Haley was accused of taking part in the beating of an inmate named Cordarlrius Sledge some eight years ago. Ifyou wish to file a complaint against a Memphis Police Officer, you may file by email, phone, or in-person. In comparison, Chicago, then controlled by Al Capone, had . Long's lawyer called a former Memphis paramedic and EMT, John Holloway, as an expert to testify. Fired Memphis EMT says police impeded Tyre Nichols' care, FILE - In this image from video released and partially redacted by the city of Memphis, Tenn., Tyre Nichols lies on the ground during a brutal attack by Memphis Police officers, Jan. 7, 2023, in Memphis. Bennett mostly supports the City Council steps so far. In August 2012, while driving his official vehicle at more than ninety miles an hour without lights or a siren, he struck another car, killing a woman and her daughter. Thank you. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. Published Jan. 26, 2023 Updated Feb. 1, 2023. In the selection process, beyond choosing officers who had records of making gun arrests, did they look at their civilian complaint history, use of force histories, and talk with their former supervisors about their fit for this kind of work? Memphis Police Department via AP Smith was hired by the Memphis Police Department in March 2018. Family identified one of the victims as 22-year-old Cory Blocker, a father with a child on the way. Moriah Station (East Precinct), Old Allen Station (North Precinct), Raines Station (South Precinct), Airways Station (Southeast Precinct), Ridgeway Station, and Union Station (Traffic Division). Laura Barron-Lopez, Sam Lane Martavius Jones, Memphis City Council Member: City Council Chairman Martavius Jones says getting rid of the chief is premature, but: To not be in front of the public in an instance like this just gives the impression there's something to hide. Contact your Mayor and Police Chief, share your scorecard with them and urge them to enact policies to address the issues you've identified: Mayor Jim Strickland. Today, almost a quarter of Memphians live below the poverty line. Low 43F. The investigative services department includes the domestic violence bureau, the homicide, the missing person's bureau, the sex crimes/juvenile abuse bureau, the general investigative bureau, the felony response bureau, and support units. I am for reforming, revisiting, revitalizing, reviewing. They have had this long to try to do something. EMT-Basic Robert Long and MT-Advanced JaMichael Sandridge, documents from a February 3 summary suspension meeting. Holloway said he did not believe Long would be a danger to the public if allowed to resume working as an EMT. The Memphis FD revealed more details Monday about their members' actions during the incident. Officers are issued the SIG Sauer P229R DAK .40 S&W as the sidearm of choice. [6] By 1927, the city's murder rate was 69.3 per 100,000 population, the highest in the country. Theyre going through it, they check off some boxes, saying, Ok, theyre good enough, get them on.. Nichols vital signs were not checked, he did not receive high-flow oxygen or an intravenous line, and he was not placed on a heart monitor. Add Daily Memphian to Home Screen. Want to learn more about the inner workings of the MPD through the Citizens Police Academy? Read MoreDrivers react to MPD reinstating unit focused on traffic enforcement, A nearly 14-minute long video shows the altercation between Gershun Freeman and correction officers which ultimately led to his death. [21] The unit had three teams totaling about 30 officers. The following Monday, 550 officers did not come to work. The council wants to be updated on these things. 4. She is also a CNN political analyst. Welcome to Friday evening, everyone: Read MoreMid-South recovers from storms as weekend calls for warm temps, sunshine, As part of his hearing, he gave his own account of what happened the night of Jan. 7, his first day on the job. People just want to be updated. A confrontation occurred during the stop and he fled on foot. [22][23] The same year, the department appointed the first female and first African American Chief of Police, Cerelyn J. Davis. Memphis City Council chair Martavius Jones told CNN on Saturday the focus should be on conducting an overall review of law enforcement units. It was the first year in a long time that we had reductions., Asked if the death of Nichols was an indication of a failure of the unit, Davis told Lemon its an indication that there is a gap somewhere in that unit.. You can call theInspectional Services Bureauat 901-636-4966. MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Police Department (MPD) said they have arrested a teenager after a mass shooting in South Memphis on Monday morning. "We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community -- this news seems to indicate that they haven't risen to the occasion. Yet Strickland reversed his praise on Friday in the wake of Nichols death, saying the SCORPION unit was made inactive pending an independent review. The Memphis Police Department, located in Memphis, Michigan is a law enforcement agency that has been granted specific police powers in Macomb County. New! We do so with focused attention on preventing and reducing crime, enforcing the law and apprehending criminals.Vision: To create and maintain for the City of CLERB has the power to receive, investigate, hear cases, make findings, and recommend action on complaints regarding excessive and deadly force. By Adrian Sainz, Travis Loller, Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press, By Bernard Condon, Jim Mustian, Adrian Sainz, Associated Press, By Adrian Sainz, Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press. Business Motley Fool. Winds light and variable. The attendant will take your information, and an investigator will then call and set up an appointment. What we know about the public servants involved in Tyre Nichols' death. Documents released Thursday, March 2, showed that two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who were fired and had their licenses suspended for failing to give aid to Nichols for 19 minutes while he struggled with injuries from being brutally beaten by police did not check his vital signs or perform other basic medical examinations. To foster that trust, the Memphis Police Department is committed to investigating alleged violations against police officers and communicating the results of those investigations to the public. We have continuously increased the police budget. Emergency: 911 | Non-Emergency: 901-545-2677 (COPS) Search Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. Trust between law enforcement and the people they protect and serve is essential in our city. [8], James Ivy became the city's first African-American police director in 1988. Statistically, crime was off the hook. Long and Sandridge failed to provide any basic or limited advanced skills in emergency care despite Nichols showing clear signs of distress, according to documents from a February 3 summary suspension meeting. "He was never present at the second scene. There was a problem saving your notification. Beard was sentenced to six months in jail and six years on probation. Nichols condition began to deteriorate roughly fifteen minutes after he arrived on the scene, according to Long. The shooting comes a day after five people were shot, including one person who died, Sunday morning in Westwood. Please check your inbox to confirm. - Thomas Hudson, president of Jackson State University, (JSU) has been replaced by Dr. Elayne-Hayes Anthony. appreciated. You can see Maggie Rogers in SF for under $100 this weekend, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Need a Neighborhood Watch Group started in your neighborhood? [11] In August 2013, Officer Vance Stacks was convicted of drunk driving and weapons charges related to a traffic accident in 2011. It has the reputation of being one of the most economically deprived, low-education, violent neighborhoods in the city of Memphis. A shooting Monday morning in South Memphis has left two people dead and two people injured, a day after five people were shot in another part of the city. The video made clear what that police confrontation entailed officers punched and kicked Nichols multiple times while his hands were restrained, and then left him slumped and motionless against a car without proper medical care for over 20 minutes. [15] In late 2014, press reports indicated that the department had 11,000 untested rape kits on hand.[16]. Hemphill and the unidentified seventh officer haven't been fired or charged, according to the Memphis PD. CNNs Eric Levenson, Alisha Ebrahimji, Mark Morales and Amanda Watts contributed to this report. Before Long testified Friday, his lawyer, Darrell O'Neal, noted that the 19-minute video taken by an elevated pole camera and seen by the board did not have sound, and it did not capture what was said during the violent arrest. Senate Overturns ESG Investing Rule; Biden Plans Veto. In June 2013, Officer Brandon Berry was charged with forcing men to have sex with him in exchange for not arresting them on outstanding warrants. [17] The same year, MPD was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee for violating a 1978 decree by surveilling on citizens for political purposes. Holloway also said that Nichols could have been moving away from Long for a number of reasons. The problems may lie in three key places: Did they receive specific, tailored training in de-escalation and how to manage events from spinning up too fast? Memphis Police Department officers arrived at the scene around 8:54 p.m. and the store, located at 7525 Winchester Road, was placed under lockdown, an officer at the scene told reporters. AdvocacyResearchData Visualization. He provided details about how he and another EMT, JaMichael Sandridge, responded after five Memphis police officers had punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a baton during an arrest following Nichols fleeing a traffic stop Jan. 7. Memphis police officers held down Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, and took turns punching and kicking him as he pleaded for them to stop, according to video footage released . The Memphis Police Department was founded in 1827. 2h ago. For Floyd, that means connecting community members to jobs in affordable housing. It's been almost two months since the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. Last week, Memphis residents packed the chambers of city hall, as counselors advanced a series of ordinances aimed at combating police misconduct, among them, improve transparency and data collection on use of force, limits on the use of unmarked cars, establishing an independent review of all police training techniques, and restrictions on certain kinds of traffic stops that are often pretextual. Attorneys for the family had called on the police department to disband the SCORPION unit at a news conference on Friday. The three former fire department personnel haven't been charged. Do you think are you satisfied with what you're hearing from them and from Chief Davis? They want police officers, Alcazar said. Long said he was not aware if those were done. Did you encounter any technical issues? Lisa Bennett, a retired educator who spent more than half her life in Memphis, says more money should be given to Memphis schools, instead of police. Five police officers have pleaded not guilty in his fatal beating. Updated: 6:14 PM CST November 15, 2021. Two men were killed and two other men were rushed to Memphis hospital after gunfire rang out on Essex Avenue on February, 27, 2023. You have been somewhat critical of the transparency from the Memphis Police Department. We want to listen and do the work to improve our Memphis Police Department. Long and Sandridge were fired by the department Jan. 30. You can call the Inspectional Services Bureau at 901-636-4966. Memphis Fire EMT Robert Long testified in front of the Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board on Friday that Memphis Police officers were "impeding patient care" after he and Advanced . Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. And in this majority-Black city, that number is even higher for people of color. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/memphis-residents-question-best-path-forward-after-police-killing-of-tyre-nichols, 5 Memphis police officers plead not guilty for murder of Tyre Nichols, New documents show Memphis officer took, shared photos of bloodied Tyre Nichols, In years leading to killing of Tyre Nichols, Memphis police lowered the bar for hiring, 6th Memphis police officer fired after beating death of Tyre Nichols. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, the police officers involved, have been terminated for failing in their excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid, police said. As we celebrate Womens History Month 2023, thisRead More about Womens History Month 2023: Memphis Makes History With All-Female Senior Leadership Team. This image from video released on Jan. 27, 2023 shows Tyre Nichols seated leaning against a car during an attack by five Memphis police officers on Jan. 7, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. An undated photo of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police. ABC News' Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report. The day of the fatal Tyre Nichols beating was his first day back on duty. Laura Barrn-Lpez is the White House Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, where she covers the Biden administration for the nightly news broadcast. 3. Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Police departments have to take the screening process of candidates to be police officers seriously and not rush to hire officers that might not be qualified, Alcazar said. The intent of the SCORPION unit has now been corrupted, attorney Antonio Romanucci said. Long testified he was on combat deployment for the US Army last year and returned to his EMT job with Memphis Fire in December. For immediate assistance call 911 for emergencies or 901-545-COPS for non-emergency. Contact your local police station for information on these and other community services offered by the Memphis Police Department. [6] In 1878, the 55-man police department was devastated by the yellow fever epidemic with all 55 officers stricken, and 10 officers dying. Want to Join theBest in Blue? The Greatest Career Choice in Law Enforcement!Contact theMPD Recruiting Teamat 1-800-318-4164.For testing dates and additional information to join the MPD,click here. In addition, the Memphis Police Department will provide data on instances where an officer engages in the use of force or discharges their firearm against a person. "Why is his identity and the role he played in Tyre's death just now coming to light?" In that shooting, police officers responded to the shooting victims at Methodist South Hospital, where the five people had driven by personal vehicles, about 4.5 miles from where the shooting took place. Nichols repeated this request several times, Long said. Officers are on the scene of a pedestrian crash in the 3100 block of Mendenhall. HEADLINE ROUNDUP. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) provides police services to the people of the city of Memphis in a 304-square-mile area with 2,081 officers. Require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor. The Memphis Police Department was founded in 1827. MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Chief Cerelyn Davis of the Memphis Police Department is preparing the community for the release of police bodycam video in the incident that led to the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. ONeal called a former Memphis EMT, John Holloway, as an expert witness to testify about Longs response. March 2nd, 2023. The five former officers, who are free on bond, are scheduled for arraignment on February 17. Did you encounter any technical issues? Finally, supervision, he said. He wouldn't stay still for assessment, Long said. Also in 2021, Mayor Strickland's Advisory Council Reimagining Police report was released with recommendations. Inspectional Services is located at: You can email theInspectional Services Bureauat [emailprotected]. The department said the EMTs requested another ambulance to respond after their "initial interaction with Mr. Nichols," and the additional ambulance didn't arrive on the scene until 8:55 p.m. "Our investigation has concluded that the two EMTs responded based on the initial nature of the call (person pepper sprayed) and information they were told on the scene and failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols," Memphis FD said in a statement. EMT Long did everything that he could, everything that he knew he could do, Holloway said. Two additional Memphis police officers, including the white officer seen encountering Tyre Nichols during his traffic stop, were relieved of duty and three Memphis Fire Department personnel were fired as the investigation into the death of Nichols continues, officials announced Monday. Published And while he said targeted deployments can have a good impact, he noted there could be issues. Five police officers have pleaded not guilty in his fatal beating. Restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles, which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic. "As per departmental regulations Officer Hemphill activated his bodycam," Gerald said earlier in a statement. Updated Officers responded to West Essex and Arkansas Street just after 9:30 a.m. on Monday for a shooting. On July 5, 181 officers called in sick. All Rights Reserved. A former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officer pleaded guilty in federal court in the Western District of Tennessee to one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law for assaulting an arrestee in January 2021. 1992 saw Eddie B. Adair named the first African American chief of police. 7:59 PM EST, Fri March 3, 2023. At least two out of of five Memphis police officers charged with murder in the fatal beatdown of Tyre Nichols joined the force after the department relaxed its hiring requirements. Memphis Fire EMT Robert Long testified in front of the Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board on Friday that Memphis Police officers were "impeding patient care" after he and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician JaMichael Sandridge arrived to find Tyre Nichols sitting on the ground, propped up against a police car on January 7. MPD is not going to be disbanded. You will serve as a SUPERVISORY POLICE OFFICER for the DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.Qualifications: In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the . Rail-Safety Bill Introduced By Bipartisan Coalition of Senators. Strickland has already asked the DOJ and . Officers [] In an interview with CNNs Don Lemon on Friday, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis acknowledged the unit was involved in the stop and said it was created due to an outcry because of three years of violence in the city., Here's how family and officials who have seen the video of Tyre Nichols' arrest are responding to the footage, You know, numbers of violent crimes, robberies, homicides, aggravated assaults, and this is one of three teams, whose primary responsibility is to reduce gun violence, to be visible in communities, and to also impact the rise in the crime, Davis said on CNN This Morning. We had record numbers in 2021, 346 homicides. He can be reached atLucas.Finton@commercialappeal.comand followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley both joined the Memphis Police Department in Aug. 2020, NBC News reported, more than two years after the department dramatically loosened the education qualifications to become an officer. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, charged with murder in the fatal beatdown of Tyre Nichols, 5 Memphis police officers plead not guilty in the death of Tyre Nichols, Cops withheld information from EMTs fired for Tyre Nichols response: union, The week in whoppers: The NYTs pulled punches on Biden, Rep. Raskins Hunter blinders and more, Memphis cops in Tyre Nichols death beat up another black motorist just 3 days prior: suit, Seventh Memphis police officer punished in Tyre Nichols death, Memphis cop charged in Tyre Nichols death previously beat up inmate, ex-prisoner alleges, Over an hour of footage reveals horror of fatal Tyre Nichols police beating, Who was Tyre Nichols?