The Failure of Supervision: Is It the Cause of Officer Failures?

The death of Tyre Nichols on January 7, 2023 is a tragedy that resulted from Nichols being severely beaten by five officers from the Memphis Police Department. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that it was entirely preventable. Close and effective supervision has never been more important than it is today. Supervisors must ensure their officers understand and follow all department rules and regulations and are held accountable for any violation of department policies. Departments must ensure that their supervisors are properly supervising and disciplining their officers, that all complaints or allegations of misconduct are properly investigated, and that departments regularly and properly train their officers and supervisors.