Easton Police Chief Seeks To 'Bridge Gaps And Close The Divide'

EASTON, MA — Easton Police Chief Gary Sullivan acknowledged the distrust that many have in local police — which has come to the forefront during the national protests the past two weeks following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis — while pledging to continue to find way to "bridge gaps and close the divide that now seems wider than ever" in Easton and similar communities.

Sullivan praised recent peaceful town protests — including the one Oliver Ames graduating senior Ava Lerman organized on Sunday that she said drew 700 participants — and said the department will continue to try to do better to serve all members of the town regardless of race and background.

"The Easton Police Department is not blind to the national unrest taking place and we don't turn a blind eye to what is happening around us," Sullivan said in a letter to the community. "Many of our officers were raised in Easton and elected to give back by serving this great community with integrity, pride and honor. We don’t pretend to be perfect because nothing can ever be, but we do strive for excellence in policing each day, that is something very important to us."

With some calls nationally to "defund" police departments, Sullivan said he understands how that sentiment exists.

"We also recognize and understand that not everyone likes or will ever trust a police officer and they never will, we really do," Sullivan said. "In our department, we have a long-standing model of effective community engagement through community oriented and problem-solving policing.

"That has been paramount to our success and we will continue to use these philosophies in an effort to bridge gaps and close the divide that now seems wider than ever."

Sullivan said that the video of the Floyd killing "sickens" him.

"Just as it sickens all good police officers who have chosen a profession where the protection and safeguarding of life, and putting the lives of others ahead of our own, is paramount," he said. "I still denounce the actions of those Minneapolis police officers and embrace the much needed changes within the criminal justice system."

He concluded that he welcomed the words of the speakers at Lerman's Black Lives Matter march on Sunday, as well as those shared at the protest in town the previous week.

"We would like to thank Ava Lerman and all those who helped organize, each protestor, and our community as a whole," Sullivan said. "The amount of class and dignity shown by the group is something that should be emulated by all those that assemble.

"Your message was powerful and we heard you. Our officers were overwhelmed to be approached by the tens of hundreds who gave us hugs, others gave handshakes, and many others simply nodded. This demonstration proved once again that we are one community and we
always stand together."

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