Washington Twp. Chief Says Officers Take Misconduct Seriously

LONG VALLEY, NJ - The death of George Floyd while in the custody of police has sparked a series of protests and social movements around the nation, and in New Jersey. Washington Township Police Chief Jeffrey Almer shared his thoughts with residents.

"I wanted to take a moment to assure the residents of Washington Township that their police department takes this issue very seriously and does not condone any kind of police misconduct or excessive use of force," Almer said. "We take every measure and conduct extensive ongoing training in order to prepare and assure that no such situation will ever take place in our town."

Floyd, 46, died Memorial Day after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on his neck for several minutes while three other officers looked on. Video footage of the arrest, in which Floyd is heard saying "I can't breathe," spread widely online, and all four officers were fired. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on Friday.

According to Almer, two times a year their department conducts use of force training, including written tests. In addition to state mandated training, they conduct multiple practical exercises throughout the year on specific training days, which promotes the use of verbal commands and de-escalation techniques in high stress situations.

"The department maintains a professional level of conduct, including mechanisms for complaints from the public, complying with the Attorney General requirements for reporting, as well as implementing an Early Warning System to track employees that could show potential problems," Almer said. "We support and require officers to come forward regarding any behavior by their peers that is improper or that they feel is not to the level that we expect from our force. We do not tolerate any behavior that conflicts with our overall mission."

Almer noted that the department also utilizes an in car camera system as well as body mics and that protocol requires that these are activated on calls and remain activated until the incident is complete.

"I am proud of our police force in Washington Township and we work hard to maintain the highest level of integrity, professionalism, compassion, service, and efficiency," Almer said. "To that end, the police department made the substantial investment to become an accredited organization.

Accreditation ensures that the department follows and maintains the highest level of service and procedures, keeping with the current state and national recognized professional police standards, Almer said.

"It is our mission to protect life and property, enforce the law in a fair and impartial manner, and to preserve the peace, order, and safety in our community," Almer said. "The officers in Washington Township do just that and are the best there is, working tirelessly day and night to ensure your safety. I trust them completely, believe in them, and am extremely proud of them, and I am proud to serve you as well."

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