Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore
Leaders of Oregon’s major police associations have condemned the conduct that led to the death in Minneapolis of a 46-year-old man while he was being arrested by police.
George Floyd’s death on Memorial Day has triggered riots and unrest in cities across the U.S., including Portland. The Minneapolis officer filmed pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck before he died has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The police leaders issued a joint statement about the “reprehensible actions and tactics demonstrated in Minneapolis.”
Separately, Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore said in his own statement, “We assure you the Salem Police Department recognizes the value and sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of every person.”
The statements join a chorus of outrage by law enforcement officials across the U.S. in recent days.
But that outrage was drowned out by stunning images from coast to coast Friday of protesters in city after city venting their anger.
In Portland, protesters broke into and set a fire inside the Multnomah County Justice Center in downtown and smashed and looted a number of downtown businesses. Mayor Sam Wheeler overnight declared a state of emergency and ordered a city curfew.
The joint police statement was issued Thursday by the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, and the Oregon State Police. It was signed by Woodburn Police Chief Jim Ferraris, president of the chiefs association; Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan, president of the sheriffs’ group, and Travis Hampton, state police superintendent.
“We wish to reassure our communities that we do not condone and will not tolerate this type of conduct,” their statement said. “We are dismayed and disgusted when the actions of a few tarnish the reputation of our honorable law enforcement profession.”
Moore focused his statement on his agency’s training.
“We do not teach our officers to control a suspect’s actions by kneeling on their neck,” Moore said.
He said officers go through state training “on how to influence people’s behaviors while limiting the degree and duration necessary to resolve the situation.”
Moore said all use-of-force circumstances are reviewed and that police conduct also is subject to oversight by the city Citizens Police Review Board.
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