DuPage Sheriff Condemns Floyd's Death, Vows To Increase Diversity

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — In an internal email anonymously sent to Patch, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick condemned the police involved in George Floyd's death and vowed to take action to increase the office's diversity and prevent police brutality. In the email, Mendrick stated that "I share with law enforcement and citizens across the country my disdain for the abhorrent and unnecessary death of George Floyd."

The email states that the sheriff's office is pioneering a program called Policing in a Diverse Society. The program, will focus on deescalation tactics and will be spearheaded by the team's Director of Mental Health Services and members of the Community Resource Unit.

Mendrick went on to write, "I will not support or tolerate police brutality committed by any person against any person."

"As a Sheriff, I support all members of the law enforcement community who perform their daily duties with honor, integrity and honesty," Mendrick went on. He added, "Neither I nor any representative of this office have any tolerance for any law enforcement officer who would violate the civil rights of another person to dishonor the badge of law enforcement."

Mendrick added that the sheriff's office has been working to hire "officers of the highest competency who also mirror the increasingly diverse community we serve." He wrote that staff and new hires are focused on recruiting minorities from local colleges and universities.

"It is very important personally to say to all of you that I condemn the behavior of all four officers in Minneapolis," Mendrick wrote. "They are criminals. They are NOT the police."

He added, "I vow, as the Sheriff of DuPage County, that I will never tolerate any racist behavior or excessive force. And I will continue to evolve this agency to be the peace officers you expect and deserve."