ATLANTA — The chief of Memphis’ police department had a lengthy career in Atlanta that nearly ended with her 2008 firing in connection with a botched investigation involving the husband of a police sergeant.
Now, Cerelyn “CJ” Davis found herself in the spotlight again as the nation saw the release Friday of a video purportedly showing five Memphis officers brutally beating a 29-year-old motorist. Tyre Nichols, who was Black, died three days later on Jan. 10.
The five officers involved, all of whom are also Black, were quickly fired and indicted Thursday on second-degree murder and other charges. Before the release of the video, comments made by investigators and Davis herself indicated the footage was extremely graphic.
