Anne Arundel Police Chief 'Will Agree to Disagree' on Ferguson Donation

On the heels of the Anne Arundel County police officers’ union donating more than $1,000 to the officer involved in the Ferguson, MO, shooting, Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis said he was not in agreement with the gesture. Davis issued the following statement Friday night:

“As Chief of Police, I am receiving requests to respond to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70’s (FOP) recent donation to the legal defense fund for the police officer involved in the Ferguson, MO, shooting of Michael Brown. I certainly embrace the necessity for due process for police officers and all citizens and, as a life member of the FOP, I know the importance of the FOP in our profession.

“However, there are occasions when a police chief will agree to disagree with the FOP president. This is one of those of those moments.

“At this point, many questions remain regarding the circumstances surrounding the police-involved shooting of Michael Brown. The ongoing investigation and federal probe into the matter will, ultimately, provide the much-anticipated answers.

“In the meantime, I attended a NAACP rally last night in Anne Arundel County related to this matter and expressed our commitment to community policing and diversity. Policing in the 21st century requires strong relationships with all of our residents, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department is committed to growing those relationships.

“We continue to serve the residents of our community by responding to calls for service and investigating crimes to keep our neighborhoods safe. The good work of our Anne Arundel County police officers deserves our continued support.”

—Anne Arundel County Police Department Chief Kevin Davis