Baldwin Sheriff’s Office taking action to rebuild trust with law enforcement

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Local law enforcement officials in Middle Georgia are expressing disbelief after the release of a video showing the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis in early January. The video shows five Memphis police officers beating Nichols, who later died from his injuries.

Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee says he was filled with anger and sadness after watching the video. In his 30 years of service, Massee says this was the most inappropriate display of law enforcement he has ever seen.

“What really amazed me during the course of watching this video is they had many occasions where they could have easily arrested him,” Sheriff Massee said. “They could have handcuffed him and arrested him, but it was almost like this whole event was punishment on this individual as opposed to any type of arrest. It broke every rule, policy and procedure of any law enforcement agency in the United States.”

The sheriff’s office is taking action to rebuild public trust with law enforcement and educate officers on how to properly handle law enforcement situations. Sheriff Massee says they are “almost overwhelmed with disbelief that things like this still occur.”

After the video was released, sheriff’s office leaders reviewed it with staff as an example of what not to do. Massee says it’s an unfortunate teaching tool to have to use, but they hope it will prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.