Memphis police chief begs city to remain calm ahead of police body cam footage of fatal beating

The police chief of Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday night urged the city to remain calm and refrain from violent demonstrations ahead of the expect release of a fatal police-involved beating of a city resident. 

The city has been on edge since the death of Tyre Nichols earlier this month; Nichols, a black man, was beaten on Jan. 7 by five police officers, all of whom are also black. Nichols himself later died from his injuries. 

In a video released on Wednesday night, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis called the beating “heinous, reckless and inhumane” and predicted that city residents would feel "outrage in the disregard of basic human rights" allegedly exemplified by the police. 

“But we need to ensure our community is safe in this process," she said. "None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or our citizens.”

The five police officers involved in the incident have since been fired from the Memphis police force. 

The fear of unrest has extended outside of Memphis, with New York City police reportedly on high alert ahead of the footage's release. The video is expected to be revealed to the public this week or next week.