MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tennessee NAACP is taking aim at a bill making its way through the state legislature that targets law review boards staffed by civilians.
The bill, SP0591/HB0764, was introduced by two republican lawmakers - Senator Mark Pody and Representative Elaine Davis - at the end of January 2023. It would get rid of community oversight review boards and give that power to cities to create their own police advisory committee.
The organization said the bill would prevent groups like the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) in Memphis from investigating use-of-force cases prior to July 2023 – which would include the beating and death of Tyre Nichols.
The NAACP said the bill would prevent oversight and worsen community and police relationships by giving mayors too much power in choosing who sits on such a committee. The group also said the bill would threaten ongoing investigations in Memphis and Nashville, and allow officers “with known records of bad behavior” to remain working without reprimand.
This comes amid calls to strengthen the powers of CLERB in Memphis following Nichols’ death.
“This is a slap in the face to Tennesseans concerned about police accountability in the wake of the killing of Tyre Nichols,” said the NAACP in a news release. “By proposing this bill, lawmakers are disregarding Memphis residents and Tennessee families traumatized by the Nichols’ killing.”