Legislation designed to undo police traffic-stop reform in Memphis is heading to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk. Specifically, the bill prevents local governments from adopting any policy that prohibits or limits law enforcement from carrying out their duties.
Memphis city council voted for the ordinance unanimously in response to police fatally beating Tyre Nichols at a traffic stop last year. It included outlawing so-called “pretextual” traffic stops for minor infractions like a broken taillight.
More: House blocks Memphis police reform, blindsiding the family of Tyre Nichols
Nichols’ parents, Rodney and RowVaughn Wells, spoke with the House and Senate sponsor — both Republicans — but couldn’t find a compromise. RowVaughn believes it’s wrong for the state to reverse something so strongly supported by Memphians.
“We had people work very hard to pass that ordinance,” explained Wells. “Just because you don’t agree with the ordinance doesn’t mean that you just come to Nashville and you put a bill together and say, ‘Oh, we’re going to overturn what you did.’ That’s not how you handle business. As far as I’m concerned.”
Senate Sponsor Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, spoke to the family ahead of the bill passing today.
“They asked if I would consider delaying the bill, and I just thought it was in the best interest of everybody involved — the Wells family, the community back home — to go ahead and have closure with this so that everybody can can move forward from here,” he said. “Because a delay would not have changed the outcome of this vote. You know, just better to go ahead and have full closure.”
After the conversation, the family decided to leave before the bill was brought up, the mother in tears.
Senate Democrats spoke against the proposed legislation, saying it was disrespectful to preempt local government from making changes they’ve approved. Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, spoke to the press after the measure passed.
“They basically said today that local elected officials aren’t competent enough to put in policies to protect their own people,” she said. “Today was a hard day, because it’s one of the most disrespectful pieces of legislation that ever came across this body this legislative session. What’s so sad was Tyre Nichols’ family, his mother, Mr. and Mrs. Wells, were here today, and they pleaded, and they asked Senator Taylor not to pass this bill, and he told them ‘I’ma do it anyway,’ and said that family home crying.”
During session, Sen. Taylor defended his actions in proposing the bill, saying it was about more than Tyre Nichols.
“As much as I empathize with the Wells family and Tyre Nichols’ family and the loss of Tyre, we can’t let the empathy, Mr. Speaker, cloud our judgement in protecting 7 million Tennesseans,” said Taylor.
Taylor says that pretextual stops can lead to law enforcement locking up serious criminals. His colleague Rep. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, shared an example.
“Last year, because the light that lit the license plate was out on a car, they arrested a gentleman in Bradley County, TN, subsequently discovered child pornography on his phone that led to 15-counts of aggravated rape of a child,” said Lowe.
The debate was cut short to open the vote — a parliamentary procedure common in the Tennessee statehouse. That meant some members didn’t get to weigh in. Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, was one of them. Upset with not being allowed to speak and the bill, Oliver left the chamber after the vote and had this to say.
“We’re going backwards,” she said. “We already done this before. We are going backwards. We’re going to have another Tyree Nichols. Another Jaquith Clemens. We’re going to have another one — Philando Castile, you name it. Let’s keep going, George Floyd. That’s what they want, right?”
The bill has one last stop — the governor’s desk. If Lee signs it, the measure will go into effect immediately, and it will get rid of the Memphis ordinance.
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