Former Memphis EMT Says Officers Impeded Treatment; Board Upholds License Suspension

A fired Memphis firefighter will not get his EMT license back, the Tennessee Department of Health ruled Friday.

Robert Long, who lost his license after he failed to aid Tyre Nichols spent four hours outlining to medical officials what happened that January night, ABC 24 reported. 

During the virtual hearing, Long blamed police for impeding his efforts to treat Nichols, who later died of his injuries. 

Long and EMT JaMichael Sandridge were fired after a video showed they didn't render aid to Nichols even after he became unresponsive.

Nichols died three days after he was beaten by officers, five of whom have been charged with murder. A third firefighter, a lieutenant, also was terminated. She remained in the apparatus during the incident. 

The two EMTs didn't do an assessment, take vital signs, administer oxygen or place him on a monitor.

Medical authorities have noted that the victim showed “clear signs of distress, such as the inability to remain in a seated posture and laying prone on the ground multiple times.” 

Long said he repeatedly tried to place a monitor on Nichols to check his vital signs, including blood pressure, but Nichols would roll away. He interpreted the action as refusing care.

However, he admitted to the board that Nichols never verbally refused treatment. 

He continued telling the board officers made it nearly impossible to treat Nichols including an instance where they were "in his face, saying loudly that the patient is not going anywhere and that they are not going to uncuff him, impeding patient care." 

Eventually, Nichols stopped moving and became unresponsive, Long said. 

The board voted unanimously to uphold the suspension.