Kneeling During Anthem: Cleveland Police Chief Comments

CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has issued a statement on the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association decision to not take part in the Cleveland Browns' opening day festivities Sept. 10. The union said it will not have officers hold the flag because players on the team took a knee during the national anthem in the preseason.

"Recent statements made by the President of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association would lead one to believe that members of the Cleveland Division of Police are against participating in events with our Cleveland Browns athletes. This is simply not the viewpoint of all of our officers," Williams said in a statement Monday morning.

Members of the police union were scheduled to take the field during the season opener on Sept. 10 and hold the flag during the national anthem. Union President Steve Loomis has said the decision by Browns management to allow players to protest was his breaking point. (To stay up to date on these stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

"As a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and the United States Navy, and a 24-year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department," Loomis told WKYC, "I am not going to participate or work with management that allows their players to disrespect the flag and the national anthem."

Williams' statement seems to rebuke some of the comments from Loomis.

"As law enforcement officers, we took an oath to serve and to protect. We protect the rights of all citizens to express their views as protected by the First Amendment of our constitution, no matter the issue. Our American flag is an important symbol to our great country and we, as officers, will continue to salute it," he said.

Williams concluded his statement by saying he believes the partnership between the football team and the city police department will continue.

"Moving forward, I can tell you that we within the Cleveland Division of Police are in communication with the Cleveland Browns Organization as we have been in the past," he said. "We want to hear from our players, the fans and our citizens of this great city. We want to bridge the gap. We want to talk."

Members of the Cleveland Browns took a knee during the national anthem during Aug. 21 preseason game.

Photo: This Aug. 21, 2017 file photo shows members of the Cleveland Browns kneeling during the national anthem before an NFL preseason football game between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. Unions representing Cleveland police and paramedics say they won’t hold a large American flag before the Cleveland Browns’ season opener because of previous player protests during the national anthem. The president of the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees Local 1975 said Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 the protest has upset union members. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, file)