3 Ways to Fix Policing in America Following Tyre Nichols’ Senseless Death

An astonishing 89 percent of Americans agree that changes in policing are needed.

The violent death of Tyre Nichols has shaken Americans. The 29-year-old Black man was pepper-sprayed, tased, and beaten by Memphis police following a traffic stop in January. He died in a hospital three days later.

Action against the five police officers (who are also Black) has been swift. All were fired and now face criminal charges. Other officers are also being investigated, CNN reported Monday. Nevertheless, federal authorities have opened a civil rights investigation, and there have been protests around the country.These discussions previously boiled over in 2020, following the death of George Floyd. Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police while in custody, sparking nationwide demonstrations and riots that caused 19 deaths and led to some 17,000 arrests.

Following that summer of violence, what's most astonishing is how little has changed. While statues have been erected and lip service has been paid, little fundamentally has altered in policing.

This is frustrating since Americans themselves recognize the need for change. A May 2022 Gallup poll found that an astonishing 89 percent of Americans agreed that changes are needed to make policing better. The same poll found that majorities of white Americans, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans agreed that "major changes" are necessary to improve policing.

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