Livingston Chief On Floyd: 'We Respect Right To Peaceful Protest'

LIVINGSTON, NJ — It’s been less than a week since George Floyd died in the custody of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But since then, a massive wave of anger, outrage – and hope – has swept the nation.

Livingston Police Chief Gary Marshuetz offered a statement about Floyd's death on Sunday.

"I would like to take a moment to address the tragic death of George Floyd and the protests that have taken place both locally and across the country," Marshuetz said. "First, it is important to stress that the actions of the former Minneapolis police officers who contributed to Mr. Floyd’s death are not supported by the Livingston Police Department. Mr. Floyd’s death was upsetting, unnecessary and disturbing. The Livingston Police Department stands in solidarity with the community and recognizes the tragic and devastating nature of this incident."

"More importantly, Mr. Floyd’s death was unacceptable," Marshuetz said. "Policing is a noble profession. Law Enforcement Officers are tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting and serving the public. The events that unfolded in Minneapolis serve as a blemish on all of law enforcement. Trust is absolutely crucial when it comes to the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Events like this tragedy often result in the public questioning that trust."

Marshuetz continued:

"It is imperative to understand that the actions of the Minneapolis Police Officers are not only not supported by the Livingston Police Department, they are also not representative of the Livingston Police Department. Livingston Police Officers are held to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Our Officers participate in consistent training on Use of Force, De-Escalation Techniques and Peaceful Conflict Resolution. Our Officers are out in the community building relationships and ingraining themselves in the fabric of Livingston. It is because of the consistent, comprehensive training that our Officers willingly participate in and the strong bonds that the Livingston Police Officers have in the community that I am confident that an incident like this would never happen in our town. In the weeks to come, it is evident that more emotions are going to be stirred up as a result of Mr. Floyd’s death. Know that the Livingston Police Department grieves with the community and we respect the right for peaceful protest. Protests have been taking place across the country and they pose legitimate questions about law enforcement practices and procedures. As law enforcement, we are committed to learning and to doing better for our community. We are also committed to the safety of all people as we navigate through these troubling times."

"There is no greater honor than serving and protecting our unique, diverse and inclusive Township of Livingston," Marshuetz concluded. "The men and women of the Livingston Police Department remain steadfast in protecting the rights of all human beings who reside in and visit our town. We promise to work tirelessly to further strengthen community trust and to restore your faith in the honorable policing profession."

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters