CT police condemn actions that led to Floyd’s death

Law enforcement agencies across the state have taken to social media or issued statements condemning the actions that led to the death of George Floyd in police custody, in a way that some say has never happened before.

Floyd died Monday after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while he was face down, not resisting, for more than eight minutes. The officer, as well as three others involved in the arrest, were fired. Chauvin has been charged; more charges are possible.

Floyd’s death sparked outrage across Minneapolis, with days of violent protests. Additional protests popped up nationwide as the weekend approached — with Connecticut seeing thousands of protesters fill Bushnell Park in Hartford, hundreds take over Route 8 north and south in Bridgeport and more than 100 gather in solidarity in Stratford.

But with the protests also came police agencies speaking out about Floyd’s death.

Hartford Police Chief Jason

Thody was one of the first to speak out about the incident in a statement Wednesday.

“My prayers are with George Floyd’s family and the entire Minneapolis community,” Thody said. “As a career member of law enforcement, I am horrified by what I saw on that video. There is simply no excuse. As police officers, we must remember our primary responsibility is public safety and the preservation of life. When someone that wears a badge goes against those principles, the damage is immeasurable and far reaching.”

The New Haven Police Department, for example, posted a video on Saturday showing Chief Otoniel Reyes backed by his officers, some of which were holding signs that read, “police against police brutality.”

During the video posted by New Haven police, Reyes called on “every single law enforcement officer around the country to stand with us and stand against police brutality.” The officers, standing shoulder to shoulder, then called out “we stand against police brutality.”

The officers then recited their oath of office to “renew our vow to the City of New Haven,” Reyes said.

New Haven police posted on Twitter Saturday, “The New Haven Police Department stands against police brutality. We compel law enforcement agencies around the country to stand united with us.”

Connecticut State Police shared the tweet, adding, “Connecticut state troopers stand against police brutality!” That set off a chain reaction for many other departments, including Bridgeport and Greenwich, to chime in, “We stand with you united against police brutality! We hear you!”

On Friday, Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez called Floyd’s death a tragedy.

Fairfield Police Chief Christopher Lyddy denounced the actions taken by Minneapolis police officers that led to the death of Floyd in a statement on Saturday.

“Our task as police officers is to protect and preserve lives at all costs. That sacred trust that the community has placed in us has been broken in Minneapolis and the repercussions and ramifications will have a ripple effect across the country,” Lyddy said. “The department stands alongside local clergy members in the decrying of this senseless and serious injustice that has taken place.”

Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas called what happened in Minneapolis a tragedy.

“The Westport Police Department, like so many others across our country, has worked diligently to build relationships and trust within our communities; a trust which we and our national partners in law enforcement recognize must be incrementally earned and always carefully maintained,” Koskinas said. “Fostering this trust among our community through a steadfast dedication to public service continues to be our top priority.”

Keith L. Mello — who serves as the chief of the Milford Police Department, the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and chairman of the Police Officers Standards and Training Council — called the incident

“beyond disturbing,” in a statement released late Friday afternoon, saying it “cast a stain over the law enforcement profession.”

“The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death,” the complaint states. “The defendant had his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total. Two minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Mr. Floyd was non-responsive. Police are trained that this type of restraint with a subject in a prone position is inherently dangerous.”

Mello said the behavior of the officers involved reflect “failures in police tactics, judgment and training.”

“Of equal concern is the lack of intervention by other officers on the scene,” Mello said. “We are reminded that we are leaders in our communities, especially during a time of crisis. Our oath and our ethics require us to act whenever we are witnessing an unjust act, even by another police officer.”