Local law enforcers praise verdict
Leaders say additional reform, advances in policing needed
LOWELL » Law enforcement leaders in Greater Lowell were unequivocal in their praise of the conviction handed down against ex-cop Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd Tuesday, but they said the jury’s verdict was just one step in what must be an ongoing effort to continue to improve policing.
Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson said every officer he knows was “appalled” by the video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck.
“To me it was an open and shut case — that’s not what police officers do in this country. He’s going to have to pay the price for his actions,” Richardson said.
“I was personally disgusted. That’s not what we stand for,” said Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney. “I believe justice was served.”
But Richardson, Spinney, Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian all said in telephone conversations or prepared statements that continued work is required, both
here and nationwide. Deputy Chief Roy Frost said the Billerica Police Department will continue to work toward “building trust and legitimacy with the community it serves.”
“I think there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in this country to rebuild relationships,” Richardson said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done here too. We have to keep marching forward and doing our job correctly and respectfully.”
Spinney said he believes police in New England, and especially the Merrimack Valley, have been leaders in efforts to change and respond to community concerns, noting Chelmsford’s involvement in a regional program to employ mental health clinicians to work side by side with police, efforts to help treat substance abuse with more than just arrests, and work with Ryan’s office and the courts on diversion programs.
He said Chelmsford Police have never allowed chokeholds, and have added language about de-escalation to use of force regulations, along with other changes. He said Chelmsford Police working to remain an accredited police agency has also required the department to stay up to date with police reform issues.
“We’re not afraid of any of these things, in fact we’ve been doing most of them for years,” Spinney said.
Lowell was one of 15 police department’s nationwide chosen to work with the Obama administration on advancing policing into the 21st century, and Richardson has detailed how those efforts have affected Lowell’s use of force policies before. Lowell Police ban chokeholds, require de-escalation efforts before use of force when possible, and the department has a “duty to intervene” policy, requiring officers to intervene and notify supervisors if they see other officers using unreasonable or unlawful amounts of force.
“The men and women of law enforcement are working hard every day to build positive relationships with all members of the community towards the shared goal of public safety,” Frost said. “Our training has evolved to focus primarily on real world scenario-based training where officers can employ their unique skills in the areas of de-escalation, containment, and mental health and implicit bias awareness.”
Frost said the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects have also helped police focus on the value of “positive non-enforcement related engagement with our communities.”
“By being intentional in the creation of positive interactions, Police Departments can continue to build trust as community guardians who have established relationships with the communities they serve,” Frost said.
Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest Martineau was attending a City Council meeting Tuesday night and could not immediately comment by telephone, but voiced support for a statement released on behalf of organization he is part of, the Massachusetts Major City Police Chief ’s Association, by Chelsea Police Chief Brian Keyes.
“As members of the Mass Major City Police Chiefs Association we strongly believe that not only was the defendant afforded due process as is required by our constitution & in conformance w/ our system of justice, but that the honorable & informed jury absolutely got it right and that justice was served,” said Keyes, the association’s president.
Bongiorno promised “partnership, alliance and transparency” as he and his officers in Bedford continue to work to earn the community’s trust.
“We all know much work remains to strengthen and build trust between law enforcement and all the communities they serve,” said Koutoujian, who released a statement regarding the conviction as both Middlesex Sheriff and as President of the Major Country Sheriffs of America.
The statement Koutoujian released on behalf of the nationwide sheriffs organization said sheriffs would work to ensure peoples’ right to protest and demonstrate are protected as long as they are nonviolent.
“What happened to George Floyd was murder. Today’s verdict reflects that; but it’s not a substitute for change,” Ryan said in a statement released shortly after the verdict.
“We must not forget his name, or that his death was avoidable. Our thoughts are w/ his loved ones today. The impact of this loss is not over. There’s work left to be done,” Ryan said.