STONEHAM -- Chief James McIntyre and the men and women of the Stoneham Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd last week.

“Police officers are sworn to protect and serve their communities equally and without prejudice,” Chief McIntyre said. “The actions of the officers involved in the death of George Floyd in no way represent the values of the Stoneham Police Department.”

Police departments and their officers across Massachusetts have thoroughly embraced the six pillars of the principles embodied in the final report of President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and remain committed to professional conduct, democratic policing and procedural justice for all people.

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 Stoneham Police Department. Specifically, police are never trained to place a prone suspect on their face or to put pressure on the neck or throat of a person being detained.

The Stoneham 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 Stoneham Police Department joins with officers across the state, nation and world in condemning the actions of the officers in Minnesota.

“The mission statement of the Stoneham Police Department clearly states that our officers are committed to protecting and preserving the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of their race, color, sex or religion,” Chief McIntyre said. “We achieve this mission by working in partnership with the community and by practicing all facets of Community Oriented Policing. Serving with compassion and respect to all members of the public, we remain committed to providing these services with professionalism and integrity.”

“While many members of our community continue to suffer from systemic racism in our society, I continue to be grateful for the leadership of Chief McIntyre and his staff for their work in addressing these issues that challenge our country and community today," Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan said. "Every single interaction a Town employee has with the public matters and there is nothing we value more than the trust of the community. We look forward to additional dialogue and discussions on the way we in Stoneham can help build a more peaceful and equitable society. The Town’s recently formed Human Rights Commission will continue to provide a safe space for residents to voice their concerns and evaluate ways we can improve as a community. Your voice matters and we encourage residents to reach out to us for help on this long road ahead.”

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