Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse’s police chief on Friday said charges were justified against a Minneapolis police officer who was seen on video this week pinning George Floyd to the ground by his neck, causing his death.
Earlier Friday, prosecutors charged officer Derek Chauvin with third-degree murder and manslaughter for allegedly suffocating Floyd with his knee as he lay handcuffed on a street Monday in Minneapolis. Police were trying to arrest him as part of a forgery investigation, according to news reports.
"I believe a crime was committed. I believe it was right for the (district attorney) to charge the individual,” Chief Kenton Buckner said at a news conference, alongside Mayor Ben Walsh and Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens.
Floyd’s death set off days of protests and riots in Minneapolis and across the country. Protesters are demanding additional charges against the officers who could be seen on video standing by as Floyd died. The officers were fired.
Buckner said fellow officers had a duty to step in and prevent Chauvin’s actions.
“Had we exercised our duty to intervene ... Mr. Floyd would probably be alive today," he said.
Buckner and Walsh said they are concerned events like the one in Minneapolis could happen in Syracuse, but they hope they have generated enough community trust to help prevent frustration boiling over if it does happen here.
Syracuse police policies prohibit the type of restraint used against Floyd except in cases where an officer’s life is in danger, he said.
“I don’t know of any agency that would give their troops the ability to use that type of restraint, a knee to the neck, unless you were in a situation where deadly force was justified,” he said. “I don’t think that anyone watching that video would feel like deadly force was reasonable or necessary under those circumstances.”
In the meantime, Buckner said he’s closely watching the events in Minneapolis to see if Syracuse police can learn good and bad responses to widespread unrest. Buckner is also praying for the Minneapolis police chief, who is in a difficult position, he said.
And he also gets the anger felt by black Americans who have seen yet another member of their community die at the hands of police, he said.
“I would tell the people who are angry: We share in your anger and disappointment,” he said.
Contact reporter Patrick Lohmann at 315-766-6670 or email at PLohmann@Syracuse.com.
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Syracuse police chief: ‘I believe it was right’ to charge officer who killed George Floyd - syracuse.com
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