State board suspends licenses of two fired EMTs involved in Tyre Nichols’ case

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board committee suspended the licenses of two Emergency Medical Technicians involved in Tyre Nichols’s investigation.

The board meeting took place on Friday morning in Nashville.

After examining the Skycop video of the night of Jan. 7, the committee determined that neither EMTs, JaMicheal Sandridge nor Robert Long, engaged in primary or secondary care for Nichols during the 19 minutes of being on the scene.

Matthew Gibbs with the Tennessee Department of Health advised before the board that neither EMTs took vitals, provided oxygen, nor administered an IV.

Gibbs also stated EMTs did not provide cardiac monitoring.

The board voted unanimously to suspend both Long and Sandridge’s licenses.

At the conclusion of the meeting, board member Dennis Rowe called the incidents “egregious behavior for any human being and not a reflection of EMS in the state of TN,” and asked that any other medical personnel seen on the scene and failed to act, should be held accountable as well.

Gibbs also noted there will come a time to consider further disciplinary action.

Friday’s action before the board did not include former Lieutenant Michelle Whitaker, who Memphis Fire says drove a fire engine to the scene and remained inside.

Gibbs says right now, the two EMTs are the only personnel facing possible sanctions by the state Department of Health.

But a couple of board members did say they hope they’ll take further action against other emergency personnel who were on the scene in the future.

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