WHITMAN — Police Chief Timothy Hanlon and the men and women of the Whitman Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd on May 25.
“Our department stands together in denouncing the actions that led to the death of George Floyd,” Hanlon said in a June 3 statement. “We as police officers take an oath to serve each and every member of our community, and we must never lose sight of that. The actions of the involved officers in Minneapolis in no way reflect the values of the Whitman Police Department.”
The methods used in Minneapolis that killed George Floyd are not part of any police-training program in Massachusetts, including those used by members of the Whitman Police Department. Specifically, police are never trained to place a prone suspect on his or her face or to put pressure on the neck or throat of a person being detained.
The Whitman Police Department believes in treating all citizens, including those accused of committing a crime, fairly and with dignity. Officers are trained only to use the amount of force necessary to ensure safety for the suspect, the officers, and civilians in the area.
“The mission statement of our department clearly states that our officers are committed to working with the entire Whitman community to make the town a safe and desirable place for all, and that we will partner with the community to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is fair, impartial, transparent and consistent,” Chief Hanlon said. “We stand with those members of the law enforcement community who abide by these same principles each and every day.”