FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — During a joint news conference on Friday, Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson and Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough addressed their concerns over the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests in Minneapolis.
Thompson and Kimbrough said the actions of the Minneapolis officers were not in line with the values of their departments.
They, along with the Guilford County Sheriff's Office and the Greensboro Police Department, released statements about Floyd's death and community safety and policing efforts.
Winston-Salem Police Chief Thompson and Forsyth County Sheriff Kimbrough released the following statement:
As your Chief of Police and Sheriff of Forsyth County, we are very saddened and sickened by the tragic events that have unfolded in Minneapolis. On behalf of the Winston-Salem Police Department and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, I extend our sincerest of condolences to the family of Mr. George Floyd, as well as the community in the Minneapolis area who are struggling to deal with the aftermath of this incident.
This event has sparked outrage and fear in our nation. The action and inaction of the officers involved are in contrast with the values of our department, the profession and humanity as whole. Mr. Floyd as well as every other person that encounters law enforcement deserves respect, compassion, and empathy.
The members of the Winston Salem Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office continue to work tirelessly to build trust and relationships with the community we serve. We see our role as public servants and protectors as a noble calling. It requires a deep dedication to fair and impartial professional law enforcement services. Our men and women enter this profession with a sincere desire to preserve and respect the sanctity of life.
The Winston Salem Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office employees are trained annually on biased based policing and follow this training up with strict policy that prohibits it. We continuously review our policies to ensure we are up-to-date with best practices.
The behaviors witnessed by the officers with Mr. Floyd are unacceptable and would be in conflict with our policies, practices, and values. As such, every patrol officer is equipped with body-worn camera and is required to utilize it in every encounter with our residents to ensure accountability. This policy as well as all others are audited for compliance continuously. These policies and practices are in place to ensure that our employees are adhering to the standard of fair treatment, dignity, equity and respect to all individuals we encounter every day.
The actions demonstrated by the officers in this incident serve to decimate the fabric of public trust in the community and thus the officers involved must be held accountable to restore legitimacy. The Winston Salem Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office welcome our residents to communicate with us to build stronger unions for the safety and well-being of all citizens. One innocent life lost is too many. We give this community our solemn pledge that we will continue to be fully transparent and continue in our efforts to build relationships and maintain an environment of openness and respect for all. Our recovery as a community from tragic events such as this will be difficult, but we will do it together. In unity there is healing.
Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers shared the following statement about tensions surrounding Floyd's death:
“The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office respects the constitutional rights of all residents of Guilford County and does not condone any abusive behavior. When complaints of misconduct are made against our deputies or detention officers I as the Sheriff, take them seriously and make sure they are thoroughly investigated. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of George Floyd of Minneapolis that died in custody.”
Greensboro Police Chief Brian L. James released the following statement:
We as a country witnessed a horrific incident this week, which will change us forever and caused many to question law enforcement nationwide. The actions of the officers involved in this incident were excessive and are counter to everything taught in law enforcement training. This incident has damaged the trust of the communities we serve and will take time to rebuild. As the Greensboro Chief of Police, I take the safety of our residents’ to heart. Since becoming Chief, I changed our mission statement to “Partnering to make Greensboro safe for all people.” I take that statement seriously and intend for it to be reflected in everything we do.
The department sees the value and importance of training our officers to deal with the ever-changing landscape of our community. We conduct psychological testing and thorough background checks on all candidates and select those who we feel will uphold the integrity that our profession requires. The entire policing community’s reputation can be tarnished with one bad decision or intentional action. While we are human and make mistakes, we cannot allow those to remain in our profession who do not treat all persons with dignity and respect.
The Greensboro Police Department has an Early Intervention System, which sets thresholds around all administrative investigations, prompting an internal review ensuring all laws and internal policies have been followed.
Training is also key for developing the officers who will serve our community with professionalism and compassion. Our training academy teaches de-escalation techniques, understanding implicit bias, procedural justice, ethics and communication skills. Officers are trained on interactions and recognizing individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities.
We are in a challenging time. Communities need great law enforcement officers who serve with professionalism and compassion, willing to treat all persons with dignity and respect. I hope this will be a moment to embrace honest conversations about how we can build, repair and maintain positive relationships with the community. The Greensboro Police Department will do its best each day to ensure we have the right people doing the right things in our communities. As a nation, my hope is that we can build from this tragic moment and not let it define us.
Brian L. James, Chief of Police
The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association released the following statement:
The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association stands for the protection of the rights of all citizens. The sheriffs of North Carolina expect all law enforcement officers to conduct themselves professionally and lawfully at all times. These higher standards of conduct include reserving the use of force, especially deadly force, for those times when its use is absolutely necessary and lawful. While we are not privy to the full investigation, what we have seen in the video of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota is unacceptable. The video clearly shows unprofessional and egregious conduct by law enforcement officers. This type of law enforcement conduct cannot be tolerated and must be swiftly addressed by the law enforcement community and the criminal justice system. Part of the mission of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association is to provide education and training to sheriffs and their personnel. The law enforcement conduct displayed in this video is inexcusable and totally contrary to the training provided to law enforcement officers in North Carolina. As sheriffs, we strive to build relationships with everyone in our communities. These relationships are built on mutual respect between officers and their community. It is by our conduct that law enforcement officers earn the respect of the public we are sworn to serve. This type of egregious misconduct by a few officers erodes the respect citizens have for all officers. Therefore, when law enforcement officers violate laws or policy, we expect them to immediately be held accountable. We, the members of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, will tolerate nothing less. We extend our deepest sympathies to George Floyd, his family, the citizens and businesses of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the law enforcement community that live up to their oath and creed of respect, courage, dedication, and service to protect and serve their community.
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