La Grange Police 'Angered' By Floyd's Death

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange's police chief said Wednesday no justification existed for the recent death of George Floyd in his encounter with Minneapolis police. He said many have asked the police department about its views on the matter.

"I want to assure you that every police officer and every police chief I have spoken with is angered, shocked and saddened by the senseless death of George Floyd," Chief Kurt Bluder said in a public letter. "There is no justification for what occurred."

La Grange police officers value the life of every person and consider life to be the highest value, Bluder said. He cited the department's law enforcement code of ethics: "As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder, and to respect the Constitutional rights of all people of liberty, equality and justice."

Bluder said the department believes in strong relationships between officers and communities. In 2018, the department adopted its 10 shared principles in consultation with the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and the Illinois NAACP State Conference, he said.

The chief also said the department has trained on cultural competency, constitutional rights, civil rights, de-escalation and procedural justice. Some have participated in the more in-depth 40-hour crisis intervention team training, he said.

"There is always room for improvement, and we will continue to implement best practices as well as to work toward the goals of our village and its residents," Bluder said.

The village was scheduled to have its third Black Lives Matter demonstration Thursday. La Grange is 5.7 percent African American, according to the U.S. Census.