The Galveston Municipal Police Association defended the actions of two mounted officers that arrested and led a black man with a rope, an image that drew outcry from some in the community.
GMPA president Geoff Gainer slammed the media on Wednesday for its reporting on the story, accusing journalists of “fanning the flames of discord” in a “country is roiled by recent tragic events.” The cops’ actions were not motivated by racial animus, and the technique used is common practice for mounted cops across the nation, Gainer said.
Officers arrested Donald Neely on charges of criminal trespass over the weekend. At the time of the arrest, no police units were available to transport Neely to jail. The officers escorted him to a mounted unit staging area to wait by tying a rope to his hands and leading him from horseback.
“The technique that our officers utilized to escort Mr. Neely is an accepted practice nationwide. It is race and gender-neutral. It is a universal technique meant to protect the individual being escorted, as well as the public. It is so universal in its application that it is the only escort technique that our officers have been trained in,” Gainer said.
Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale released a statement on Monday, expressing that he thought his officers used “poor judgment” in Neely’s case.
Kevin Lawrence, the executive director of Texas Municipal Police Association, disputed Hale’s statement.
“Contrary to what some have said, these officers did not use poor judgment. They did exactly what they are trained to do,” Lawrence said. “The prisoner in this case, Mr. Neely, publicly stated the officers were ‘very nice,’ treated him ‘very well’ and does not take exception to his treatment by the officers.”
“This case exemplifies the disconnect the media and general population have with law enforcement,” Lawrence added. “There are no good optics when making an arrest or detaining a suspect. It is the very nature of the job we ask our law enforcement officers to do and, very often, there are no good options.”
