Brookline Police Chief Condemns Death Of George Floyd In MN

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Police Department is joining several other police departments across the country in speaking out against the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd. Video of the officers arresting Floyd has gone viral and shows one officer kneeling on Floyd's neck as he asks him to stop, saying he can't breathe. Floyd died in police custody.

Brookline Police Chief Andrew Lipson issued a lengthy statement on May 29 on the department's Facebook page:

"We do not need to wait for an official report to understand that what we watched on the video was egregious, wrong, and certainly was not in conformity with our laws, policies and values here," said Lipson in the statement. "The video has deeply disturbed all of us. Minneapolis Police Headquarters is nearly 1,400 miles from Brookline, Massachusetts but we understand that the effects of this incident are felt by all of us as if it happened in Brookline."

Read the full statement:

To our community,
I typically don’t comment on the actions (or lack thereof) of police officers not employed by our own agency. Policing is a profession that varies greatly state by state, and even town by town, from recruitment and training standards to policy development and oversight. Like with any of our own internal investigations, we want to make sure we have all of the information before coming to a conclusion.
The murder of George Floyd at the hands of former police officers in Minneapolis is different. We do not need to wait for an official report to understand that what we watched on the video was egregious, wrong, and certainly was not in conformity with our laws, policies and values here. The video has deeply disturbed all of us. Minneapolis Police Headquarters is nearly 1,400 miles from Brookline, Massachusetts but we understand that the effects of this incident are felt by all of us as if it happened in Brookline. We understand that these events tarnish the badge worn proudly and with integrity by so many. These actions undermine public faith in police officers everywhere. It is painful and tears at the fabric of our relationships with minority communities.
There is no defensive tactic or skill that we authorize that involves kneeling on someone’s neck for a period of time. Our officers are specifically trained not to put pressure on the neck or throat of a prone suspect, and our officers are trained to move a person in custody that is face down to a recovery position as soon as possible. Our Use of Force Policy, available online, is reviewed each year by our command staff to make sure the emphasis on the sanctity of human life remains at its center, and our status as an Accredited Department relies on that. Our Officers are also trained and required by policy to intervene when they know, or should know, that another employee is using unreasonable force.
We thoroughly review this policy with all of our officers at a minimum of once each year as part of our in-service training, and we have made sure that supervisors are aware of their extra responsibilities by including this policy as part of our promotional exams. Any time force is used by a member of the Brookline Police Department, the circumstances under which the force was used must be detailed in a report by both the officer and their supervisor(s). These reports are then reviewed to ensure that any force used by a member of our Department was authorized and appropriate.
In addition to extensive training and robust policies, our Department utilizes an Early Intervention Program to help identify officers who may be having difficulties in performing police work to the standards we’ve come to expect. By identifying these officers at an early stage, intervention can take place to correct behavior patterns thereby making it less likely they will re-occur in the future. This system will also identify problem areas, training needs and issues that must be addressed in order to provide professional and effective policing.
We can’t change what happened in Minneapolis. We can promise that we have been continuously learning, training and engaging in best practices to make sure we deliver the most professional police services to the citizens we serve. Last fall we offered several “open house” sessions for members of Town Government as well as the general public to learn about the topics discussed here first hand and in greater detail. One of the topics covered was dealing with a person on the ground being taken into custody. We talked about how we train and did role playing and scenarios with the public. Those in attendance would understand how the actions in Minneapolis are contrary to our training and values. We would encourage you to keep an eye out for these once we are able to resume regular open meetings, as we value the two-way conversations that take place in such a setting.
Police organizations that I am a part of, including the #IACP, Major City Chiefs Association and Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, denounce the actions and inactions by Officers in Minneapolis that resulted in the death of George Floyd. We are committed to professional conduct and procedural justice for all people.
Sincerely,
Chief Andy Lipson

Read more:

• MA Authorities Condemn George Floyd's Death In Minneapolis
• Thousands Of Protesters In Boston March To State House
• Rioters Clash With Police In Boston

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.