Sheriff’s Association Condemns George Floyd Killing, Local Sheriff Comments

vanburensheriff

The Michigan Sheriff’s Association has released a statement condemning the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The association that represents all 83 elected county sheriffs in the state says the officers involved in Floyd’s death “have degraded, disparaged, and discredited our profession, and broken trust with those we serve — residents and communities.” Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott agrees, telling WSJM News the actions of the officers in Minnesota were “way out of line.”

“I don’t know what they were thinking, staying with their knee his neck like that,” Abbott said. “Number one, that’s a move that you don’t even use in law enforcement just because it could be a life-threatening move, and to do it for that amount of time, I’m just speechless.  When I saw the video, I was actually sickened by it, and I can’t even wrap my mind around it.”

Abbott says it’s unfortunate some are associating all police officers with the actions of those in Minnesota.

“In today’s day and times, we should not be having this conversation. With the training available and the way officers are trained, everything in general, it’s a sad situation that we’re even talking about something like this happening again.”

The Michigan Sheriff’s Association says the state’s sheriffs “grieve for and stand with Mr. Floyd’s family, and call for justice and peace.” There will be a peaceful march in South Haven this weekend, and Abbott says local police will take an active role.