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BELLEFONTE -- Several Centre County police departments have issued statements in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests happening throughout the United States.
The Bellefonte Borough, Ferguson Township, Patton Township, Spring Township, State College police departments issued statements on Thursday afternoon as did the Centre County Sheriff, the Centre County District Attorney and Penn State President Eric Barron.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after now-former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes while two other officers held Floyd down and another looked on. Chauvin, who is white, has been charged with second degree murder, while the other three have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. Floyd was unarmed and was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill.
Floyd's death sparked protests throughout the country -- and in some cases riots -- as Americans rally to bring attention to the instances of police brutality against the black community. In Centre County, there was a large but peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon along College Avenue in downtown State College.
Thursday's statements were sent via email from the Centre County District Attorney's Office. In his statement, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna referenced a Philipsburg-Osceola High School student who mocked Floyd's murder.
Here are the full statements from the Centre County District Attorney, the Centre County Sheriff's Office, the Bellefonte Police Department and the Spring Township Police Department. Those four entities are in The Express' coverage area. You can find the other statements on their respective websites.
Bellefonte Chief of Police Shawn Weaver
"You can apologize over and over, but if your actions do not change, the words become meaningless."
Our country finds itself in the midst of social unrest, fueled by a hideous crime against all that I have pledged an oath to protect -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter color, gender, creed or anything else that one can identify as, we in law enforcement took the same exact oath. Our oath in its most simple form is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to preserve peace and to ensure that all are safe from harm.
I am sickened and angered by the police officers responsible for killing George Floyd. The oath that every police officer takes, our dreams to make a difference, our hard work, our training, all were degraded to nothing, as we watched in disbelief the loss of life under the knee of a police officer. To further add insanity to this atrocity, fellow officers stood by and did nothing to save that life.
We have much work to do in this country. Saying we are sorry is not enough anymore. Our good intentions, deeds and training mean nothing if we don't protect our fellow citizens. I, as well as your police department, are committed to treating ALL people with respect, dignity, and fairness. We have and will continue to build positive relationships with our citizens. We also will begin an attempt to rebuild the public's trust in law enforcement that has been rightfully severed by the recent deplorable actions of a few.
I can say with absolute certainty that the good police officers of this nation are also sickened. We, too, have seen all that we can endure of these types of actions. Those police officers are the ones that I am proud to be a part of. They do stand alongside the good people of this country who demand that changes are necessary to evolve our society into one in which we ALL are truly considered equal.
Centre County District Attorney's Office
Yesterday a student from Philipsburg-Osceola showed an image of himself reenacting the murder of George Floyd. He captioned the post as "I can still breathe. I'm not dead, something is off here." The post was baldly offensive, mocking the murder of a fellow human being.
It is important that people in Centre County know that their police chiefs, law enforcement leaders and officers are appalled by the actions and inactions of the officers involved. What occurred to George Floyd has no place or justification in a civilized society and cannot be allowed to stand.
I attach the public statements made by Centre County law enforcement and their leaders as a direct response to the post yesterday so that perhaps the individuals responsible for it understand how law enforcement view the matter. There is nothing to debate regarding George Floyd's death. It was criminal and inhumane.
"There are longstanding issues in our criminal justice system that must change," said District Attorney Bernie Cantorna. "They are a reflection of the racial divide and inequities in our society that continue to exist and divide us. For my part, I will continue to work so that our legal system treats everyone fairly, regardless of their race, gender, religion or any other identifying characteristics. If our legal system is to function, it must protect the vulnerable, seek justice and work to address the underlying issues that cause crime. I support the protestors seeking change in how we police, and the racial and economic inequities that continue to divide us."
Centre County Sheriff Bryan Sampsel
The officers involved in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota have no place in law enforcement. The actions of the officers were in direct conflict with the ethics, values and sworn duty of every law enforcement officer in this country. This kind of behavior has a rippling effect on every law enforcement officer in this country and the trust of the citizens which they serve.
We are to protect and serve the communities in which we serve. The officers involved in this tragedy failed to uphold their oath. While watching the video I was angry and saddened at the officer's behavior for human life. I know everyone that I spoke with who has watched the video was appalled by the actions of the officers involved in the death of Mr. Floyd. I believe most law enforcement officers take the job they have to serve, protect and give back in some way to the communities they live in to make them better.
The actions of those officers do not represent the ethics, training, policies and practices of the Centre County Sheriff's Office. Our office will continue to serve the community and work to maintain the trust within the community we live.
Spring Township Officer in Charge Ronald Schall
Time and time again our country is faced with our country is faced with incidents involving law enforcement where the public questions law enforcement as a whole. At Spring Township Police, we are fully committed to ensuring that the residents of Spring Township have the utmost confidence in our department. After watching the video widely shared of Mr. Floyd's death, I was appalled. That type of behavior has no place in law enforcement and will not be tolerated at Spring Township.
The Spring Township Police Department will continue to build our relationship with the community and strive daily to do that. Spring Township will treat any individual with respect, dignity and professionalism no matter what their religion, race, creed or sexual orientation. We have recently implemented body cameras to be as transparent as possible with the citizens we serve.
Officers at Spring Township receive annual training in topics like cultural diversity, implicit bias, crisis intervention and use of force. This ensures that officers have the best and most current training at their disposal in critical situations.
We understand that incidents like the one in Minneapolis will cause major setbacks to the trust of law enforcement, but that will not change our mission to treat everyone with the respect that every human deserves.