Grad Profile Leaderboard

A message from Chief Sullivan regarding the death of George Floyd

by | Jun 4, 2020 | Opinion

I was sickened to watch this horrific act that resulted in the death of George Floyd in Min­neapolis on May 25th, 2020. I can’t reconcile in my mind of why this officer seemingly didn’t have the wherewithal to see the damage he was inflicting and/or those officers watching or assisting that didn’t stop it or intervene. There will always be mitigating factors in every case but I don’t need to rely on them conclusively because the actions of the officer (as seen on video) so outweighed any responsible factor because none of it was based on general prac­tice or training. Not one time in my 34 years in this profession have I personally applied or watched someone else apply a knee on someone’s neck to gain control of a handcuffed suspect.

As a LE Professional I pub­licly condemn this murder. I condemn the fact other officers who were present didn’t stop it, and I truly believe that this is not a representation of the courageous and compassion­ate work that the other 800,000 Law Enforcement Officers around our country carry out day after day.

The Farmersville Police Department has always as­pired to develop community relationships that foster trust, cultivate partnerships, under­standing, and transparency with all whom we encounter. I also realize words like these may ring somewhat hollow based on the current circumstances we’re under. However, this has weighed heavy on my heart and discussing the incident with our officer’s, all have expressed the same outrage and sorrow for George Floyd and his family. WE can do better; we must do better.

No single incident should ever define the law enforce­ment profession; however, we must also be willing to publicly denounce any abuse of police authority and/or actions and uphold ourselves in a way that garners public trust. I want to thank our community who give us their confidence and trust each day as we carry out our duties to serve.

Respectfully,

Michael P. Sullivan, Chief of Police, City of Farmersville

For more stories like this, see the June 4 issue or subscribe online.

Grad Profile Leaderboard

0 Comments

Subscribe 300x250 - Love

Related News

Who makes America great

Who makes America great

It’s not about one person, it never was. I don’t care who that person is or was, it has always been of the people, for the people and by the people. It is what our founding fathers had in mind when they penned the Constitution. They knew then what we keep forgetting —...

read more
Voucher bill has backing of House majority

Voucher bill has backing of House majority

A slim majority of Texas House members have indicated they will back House Bill 3, which creates education savings accounts that allow families to use taxpayer money for private school education. The Dallas Morning News reported that 75 Republican legislators have...

read more
HB2988 threatens Texans’ right to free speech

HB2988 threatens Texans’ right to free speech

Marcus Winkler from Pixabay Imagine being the target of a vexatious lawsuit completely without merit in which you ultimately prevail—only to find out that you not only have to pay your attorney’s fees but also the other side’s.  That’s the likely outcome if the...

read more
Door number one

Door number one

Columnist John Moore has some milk bottles to return, but the milkman no longer stops by his home. Courtesy John Moore Social media, for all of its faults, every now and then offers something worthwhile. I’m a member of a group on Facebook called, “Dull Men.” The only...

read more
The perks of good coffee

The perks of good coffee

Columnist John Moore noticed a tear on his coffee cup and himself after a recent purchase at a high-dollar coffee shop. Courtesy John Moore  On a recent trip, I remembered why I like to stay home.  Coffee. After throwing back the covers from my rented room,...

read more
A hare much

A hare much

Columnist John Moore recalls the friends of his youth, including Harvey The Rabbit. Courtesy John Moore I never had more than one at a time, but I had stuffed animals.  Don’t all kids have a security blanket when they’re young? At first, I had a monkey who had a...

read more
President and accounted for

President and accounted for

Most of us can cite a handful of times when we knew that we were witnessing history.  Something unique. Something profound. A shift in the tectonic plates of society. So it was on January 20, 2025. There was a drawing for tickets to attend the presidential...

read more
Someone’s watching

Someone’s watching

While some in society have stopped wearing watches, columnist John Moore isn’t one of them. Courtesy John Moore  I noticed his Watch immediately. I usually notice watches immediately. But his was especially noticeable. It was a Rolex. I don’t own a Rolex, but one...

read more
Wild times picking blackberries

Wild times picking blackberries

Wild blackberries. Photo by Siala from Pixabay My father would load my sister and me into his ‘52 Chevy truck, and he’d steer down the gravel road leading to the homestead where my mom was raised. The radio played Loretta Lynn and Faron Young as the wind...

read more
Dream on

Dream on

I’m fairly certain my dreams have a drug dealer. What is it with dreams? Sleep is supposed to be an 8-hour window (mine’s never that long) when we rest, regenerate, and arise feeling as refreshed as the person in the Folger’s commercial who throws back the covers and...

read more
Subscribe 300x250 - Love