Minnesota Police Chiefs Comment On Death Of George Floyd

MINNESOTA — In a largely unprecedented move, police chiefs and sheriffs from across the United States have come against the actions of the police officers who arrested George Floyd before his death. It is rare for police to comment on the actions of law officers in other jurisdictions.

"Based on the by-stander’s video from this incident, we witnessed a man in distress pleading for help," Patrick Yoes, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement.

"The fact that he was a suspect in custody is immaterial—police officers should at all times render aid to those who need it. Police officers need to treat all of our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct."

Also read: Buildings Trashed, Burned Down Across Minneapolis Overnight

Among police officials who have weighed in on the deadly incident is Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell, who wrote that "something went horribly wrong at the intersection of 38th and Chicago, and everyone in law enforcement owes it to themselves, their coworkers, their city and the people they serve to make sure it doesn’t happen again. So today I asked every SPPD police officer to watch the horrible video and do something different. I asked them to put themselves in George Floyd’s shoes."

Read the full statements on the incident from police sheriffs and chiefs in Minnesota below:

Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson:

Like many of you, I have seen the video from the May 25th incident at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis. The content of the video is extremely disturbing. I am confident that the FBI and the Minnesota BCA will conduct a thorough and timely investigation into this incident.

Mendota Heights Police Chief Kelly McCarthy:

To the Citizens of Mendota Heights, Mendota, and Lilydale
I don't normally comment on incidents that occur in other cities, so I wont. However, we are accountable to our citizens so you need to know that all Mendota Heights Police Officers are trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms positional asphyxia. I have attached our Use of Force Policy that includes the provision that officers have a duty to intercede.
To our community members of color, we see you, we hear you, and you matter.

Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell:

“A time for reflection”
It has been a difficult few days for all of us. Like you, I’ve been shocked, disgusted, angry and grieving. I’ve also taken some time to collect my thoughts and make sure I’ve addressed this issue with your police officers (the SPPD) before talking about it publicly.
Now I want you to know where I stand.
The video of a man being arrested across the river is beyond disturbing. The situation can only be described as a tragedy in every sense of the word.
I’m also using this as an opportunity to do some soul searching, and I’ve asked our officers to join me in doing the same.
I often say that being a police officer is a calling, and those who answer do so because they want to help people. At the SPPD, we look for people who, at a minimum, possess these qualities: integrity, respect for all, compassion and empathy. These are the building blocks on which trust, community safety and professional fulfillment are built. And they are non-negotiable.
They also need to be maintained. Today I asked all SPPD officers to check in on themselves.
Something went horribly wrong at the intersection of 38th and Chicago, and everyone in law enforcement owes it to themselves, their coworkers, their city and the people they serve to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
So today I asked every SPPD police officer to watch the horrible video and do something different. I asked them to put themselves in George Floyd’s shoes.
I asked them to imagine they are on the ground and cannot breathe. Imagine that their only option is to turn to a police officer for help. Imagine the pain, fear and desperation. Then think about how their families would feel later, watching such a video of them, beneath the knee of an officer, with no hope.
Then I asked them to put themselves in the shoes of the officers, the bystanders, the community members we serve who are now forced to confront this tragedy.
As painful as this is, it’s something we, as law enforcement professionals, must do. Because when we lose our integrity, respect for all, compassion and empathy – when we stop seeing people and only see problems – we lose everything that is good about our profession.
Finally, I challenged our officers to ask themselves if they would have done anything differently from what the officers did in the video.
If the answer is no, I told them to reconsider their career choice.
Integrity. Respect for all. Compassion. Empathy.
These qualities are non-negotiable – as law enforcement professionals and as human beings.
I know that the job is difficult. I know that the vast majority of the time officers do what is right. But I also know that if we don't check ourselves, we run the risk of losing touch with humanity. And then we have lost everything.
I’m praying for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community and our police officers and I’m committed to doing everything possible to make sure we never again see another tragedy like this.

Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken:

Since yesterday, I have spent time reflecting upon the tragedy happening in Minneapolis and the tragic loss of Mr. George Floyd. My heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Floyd’s family and friends for their significant and untimely loss.
When watching the video, I was shocked, angry, hurt, and embarrassed. I knew this incident would call into question the profession of law enforcement and for the time being, hide away the remarkable efforts of those who each day admirably and proudly serve their communities.
I watched this tragedy happen and my mind raced and I had a series of questions I needed to answer: What could change the outcome? Might the same thing happen here? We do on-going training and for a moment, I questioned if DPD officers know the expectations? I then asked the most important question. Who are we and what do we value?
When I asked this question, things came into focus.
I repeated a statement I have said countless times-the community is our strength. Our ability to create safe neighborhoods is accomplished by engaging our community to help us, help them, and help each other. Our community is a force multiplier of eyes and ears who see and hear matters of safety and by working together, we can achieve and sustain quality of life. We police with our community.
Building relationships is not only part of our stated mission at DPD but more importantly, it is who we are and what we do. We spend countless hours with people in their places and spaces by getting to know them and sharing who we are. We see you as invaluable partners in safety and we hope you see us the same way. We want you to know us in case you need us.
I then asked: Who are we? At DPD, we do character based hiring. We recruit and hire people who are kind, compassionate, caring, and selfless who can build relationships and see the value in this work. We hire people who understand that on your worst day, hour or moment of your life, we will be there to offer a hand up and we show up by offering dignity and respect to all.
As I reflected more, I know it isn’t the policies, procedures and training alone guiding our work, our mission, and our values-it must be intrinsic. At the very core of what we do and who we are, we need to care. We need to care for our community-all people. We are called when things are bad-to make things better-to help people-to care. If we do this important work with this focus, we will honor this noble profession by caring for those who we took an oath to serve and are entrusted to help.
We must always honor and care for you.