A detective with the New York City Police Department spoke out against the mistreatment of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who died during his arrest this week, saying the officer who killed Floyd dishonored law enforcement officials everywhere.
“I felt compelled to say something, because I realized by saying nothing that I am indeed saying something,” detective Dmaine Freeland said in a video posted to his Facebook page Wednesday. “I’d like to state that although we wear the same uniform and although we wear the same badge and our job descriptions may be similar in many ways, me and every good cop in the department are different from that heinous act that has transpired in Minneapolis.”
Derek Chauvin was one of the four Minneapolis police officers who responded to a report of a person using counterfeit money at a convenience store Monday night. The officers arrested Floyd, who, according to multiple videos taken at the scene, never resisted arrest.
Chauvin is seen in one of the videos kneeling on Floyd’s neck while the man tells officers he can’t breathe and begs them to get off.
“In the beginning, in starting this career, we take an oath to serve and protect,” Freeland responded after watching the video. “I would like to say that that officer failed on both aspects. And because he has failed, he is not my friend, he is not my brother, but he is my enemy.”
All four of the officers involved in Monday’s incident have been fired by the police department, and the mayor has asked prosecutors to open a murder investigation into Chauvin.
Floyd’s killing has sparked massive protests in Minneapolis and other cities across the country. It has also ignited renewed questions about punishments for police brutality and the mistreatment of minority suspects.
“I just believe that it’s time for every good cop to speak up,” Freeland said. “So, I close this message by saying, ‘Be safe, be careful, and most importantly, be blessed.'”
