Eden Prairie Mayor's Statement On Death Of George Floyd

Press release from the City of Eden Prairie:

May 29, 2020

"My heart goes out to his family and friends, as well as the Black community members who are experiencing yet another deadly encounter with law enforcement that shines a spotlight on the inequities they face daily. It also undermines the good work of other police officers taking place every day across our country.

Understandably, when something like this occurs so close to home, it leaves Eden Prairie residents feeling anxious and frustrated. Many of you have called and emailed over the past few days asking what the City of Eden Prairie is doing to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring in our community.

I want to assure you that our Police Department dedicates itself to hiring officers who value important relationships with the community. The founders of our Department created a culture based on protecting and serving every single person in our community with dignity and respect, and as each new officer is trained, they become ingrained in that doctrine.

Our Police Department also has a long history of providing extensive training in the areas of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, as well as use-of-force, implicit bias and other important skills. The Eden Prairie Police Department invests heavily in ensuring officers have the tools they need to fulfill their mission safely and compassionately.

Residents have played a crucial role in shaping the culture of our Police Department, and consistently rate public safety services in Eden Prairie highly and important to their quality of life. As City leaders, we have responded by ensuring there is adequate funding for the quality training and equipment that are necessary for a 21st-century police force. The Department has also gained the trust of the community by interacting with residents of all age groups and demographics through many outreach efforts each year.

Again, thank you for all of the feedback we have received. From words of encouragement and support, to questions about what can be expected from our City and Police Department, we deeply appreciate your comments and thoughts. The appalling act of brutality that took George Floyd’s life has traumatized us all. It requires us to reflect on where we are and what we stand for as a community. To all of our residents, and especially during this very difficult time, to our Black community, on behalf of the City of Eden Prairie, I want you to know how much we value you, treasure your contributions to our community and hurt alongside you. COVID-19 has taught us to be "in this together." Now more than ever, we need to stand together against racism, bigotry and prejudice. It starts with us."

Take care,

Mayor Ron Case

This press release was produced by the City of Eden Prairie. The views expressed here are the author’s own.