BLACKSTONE — Chief Gregory Gilmore and the men and women of the Blackstone Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd last week.
“What we saw in Minneapolis last week was an egregious show of misconduct that disregarded the sanctity of life,” Chief Gilmore said. “The actions taken by the Minneapolis Police officers are plainly indefensible and incomprehensible and do not in any way represent the values of Blackstone Police officers, or any officer who gets into this profession for honorable reasons.”
Police departments and their officers across Massachusetts have thoroughly embraced the six pillars of the principles embodied in the final report of President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and remain committed to professional conduct, democratic policing and procedural justice for all people.
Massachusetts police officers are not trained to apply pressure to the neck or throat and to never place a suspect on their face. Officers are trained only to use the amount of force necessary to ensure safety for the suspect, the officers, and civilians in the area.
“Our officers work every day to provide services that foster public trust and create a bridge between the community and the police department to create safer neighborhoods,” Chief Gilmore said. “Though miles away from our state, the acts of four officers in Minneapolis erode the trust law enforcement agencies everywhere have worked to build, especially among minority communities.
“Every officer who takes the oath at the beginning of their career pledges to carry out their duties with honor and virtue. It is the responsibility of all law enforcement officers to enforce the law in an impartial and just manner, and those who do not do so must be held accountable.
“We stand with officers across the state, nation and world in condemning any action that violates this oath, and we encourage the free exchange of ideas and opinions of those around the nation who peacefully call attention to these injustices.”
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