EPD Chief Watson Speaks About the Death of George Floyd During His Arrest by Minneapolis Police Officers

Yesterday evening, Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson posted the following letter to the community about the death of George Floyd. With his permission, we shared it below with you.

Chief Steve Watson [Image from the City's website]

Chief Steve Watson [Image cropped from one on the City’s website]

Good evening, Eureka and beyond. I shared the following message with all members of the Eureka Police Department today. It should leave no doubt where I stand as a law enforcement leader regarding the death of George Floyd during an arrest by Minneapolis police officers on Monday:

Along with many other law enforcement officers and leaders across the nation, I was deeply disturbed and outraged by what I saw in the video of George Floyd’s death on Monday while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. Even while being mindful that we do not have all the facts of the case yet, I cannot conceive of a situation where the actions of those officers were reasonable, necessary, and justified. Several of you have already shared with me you feel the same way. There are times where the right thing to do is to take a stand now rather than wait, and I strongly believe that time is now. This is the strength, integrity, and leadership our community needs to see from their police departments. This is our opportunity to lead by example and to demonstrate the public’s trust in us is deserved. So, I ask you to join me in standing with the vast majority of the nearly one million U.S. law enforcement professionals who honorably serve and protect their communities, and condemn the appalling actions of the former Minneapolis officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for over 8 minutes while he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe during an arrest that resulted in his death. The former officers who just stood by and watched without intervening also deserve to be called out and held accountable.

What that video depicts is counter to how we train and what the badge represents. Policing must be fair, impartial and just always, without exception. The values of the Eureka Police Department demand we police with courage, compassion, purpose, and honor and that human life must be valued and protected.

Next week in front of EPD, law enforcement and community leaders will stand together to make a statement regarding the value of human life and how racism and hate won’t be tolerated in Humboldt County.

With great appreciation for your courage and honor,

Chief Watson

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
3 years ago

Commendable. Thank you Chief Watson.

R-dog
Guest
3 years ago

Even if they have all the facts of the case police still have to follow the law no matter how pissed they are the police are not the Justice system they are just pawns doing a job for the highest court system in the country these cops need to learn and undersand that there job is to bring the criminals in to go through the Justice system no matter how bad they don’t like it if it botters them to have to do that they need to be in a different line of work

Stand Up & Be Well
Guest
Stand Up & Be Well
3 years ago

“Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. … But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again.”
MLK Jr., 1967

How true his eloquent words are ..and applicable 53 years later! It is so Tragic-there are no words.. Just heartbreaking on so many levels! May we truly become “ Free at Last”!!

Diamond
Guest
3 years ago

Thank you Chief Watson.

After viewing a portion of the video of George Floyd’s murder by the police, I couldn’t sleep last night. We all need to join in peaceful protest against racism and violence against our fellow humans.

All of us.

Joe
Guest
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Diamond

I couldn’t say it any better. Thanks Diamond.

Law
Guest
Law
3 years ago
Reply to  Diamond

Unfortunately, The cry to stop this type of violence was not heard and was even scoffed at, ridiculed, and condemned when Colin Kaepernick tried an extremely peaceful protest before football games. It’s disrespectful they said. However, isn’t more disrespectful to treat people of color as if they are animals running wild in the streets, to hunt them down men, women and children. Then expect us to feel that our country cares about us when people treat racist acts as though it’s supposed to be the norm and are offended when we speak up about it. Then you still didn’t listen.
NOW THE VIOLENCE BEGINS! The brutality is not knew it is just able to be seen and we can show you since you don’t listen.

It’s not all police officers it’s the few racist police that feel their privilege protects them from the brutality and murders they commit. Especially when they have gotten away with so much over the years with barely a slap on the wrist. Nothing real happens until a violent protest breaks out.
Why does it take two months to arrest two men video taped killing a black man. When it takes minutes for a police officer to show up to detain and kill a black man on a forged check charge. It would be something if Floyd was “secretly having sex with Derek’s (police officers) wife. 🤔
Regardless the peaceful protest did not work so now it’s come down to this.

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago

I hope the chief will also review the actions of his 2 officers who are just like Floyd’s murderers and terminate them and arrest them. Then we will know he is doing more than talking points.

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
3 years ago
Reply to  Alf

Which two, which incident?

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago
Reply to  Pike Mortar

Pike, I didn’t specify the officers on this forum, but it was over 2 years 2007 and 2008. I don’t know if the chief reads RHBB, but if he does I would be more than happy to discuss the details with him. I know for sure one is still on the force. The other may or may not be retired.

Maga night
Guest
Maga night
3 years ago

I hope chief watson watches the images of New York City!Do not pepper spray hundreds of peaceful protesters from behind barriers ,my god this was just shown on cnn .How many departments engaged in “ riot control “ last night against Generally peaceful protests.no justice no peace

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago

How about taking a stand against violence by our local police agencies? You know, the ones who shot and killed a kid for having an airsoft gun, shot and killed a guy for having a mop,…

Doggo
Guest
Doggo
3 years ago

If you think there are no racists in your department you need to rethink. You need to aggressivly call out the closeted racists in your department and tell them directly that there is no place for them in your department. The sheriff needs to do the same thing.
No officer should ever call any citizen an asshole or any other insulting word in the course of an arrest. Not ever. And if they do that officer should be terminated on the spot. No provocation should justify the unproffessionalism of public servants.

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
3 years ago
Reply to  Doggo

So if a cop calls someone an asshole, that cop should be fired?

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago
Reply to  Pike Mortar

And all this time I thought calling them asshole is a complement compared to what most criminals really are. Hmmmm.

Yes
Guest
Yes
3 years ago
Reply to  Pike Mortar

Absolutely! If a public servant with a gun can’t control his temper, he should find a different job. I don’t even think a Walmart employee can get away with calling a customer an asshole.

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
3 years ago
Reply to  Yes

If you think calling someone an asshole is losing your temper you need to get out of elementary school! While on the subject, stick and stones…..

Doggo
Guest
Doggo
3 years ago
John Davis
Guest
John Davis
3 years ago

Truly appreciate all you do for the city of Eureka. I do not envy you for the current protests that are taking place, I definitely support you and the department.

Guests
Guest
Guests
3 years ago

Well said Chief Watson, thank you for doing the good job you do.