By Keith M. Cross,
Chief of Police,
Aurora Police Department
Saturday, Jan. 7, similar to many other people all over the world, I watched the horrific events that unfolded during a police/civilian interaction in Memphis, Tenn..
When I watched Tyre Nichols being beaten by several police officers after being pulled over for a traffic violation, I couldn’t help but wonder how this situation could go so terribly wrong.
I didn’t have all the information on the incident when I first viewed it, nor do I have all the information now.
What I do know is that there is absolutely no justification for something like this to happen to anyone, period.
This young man is dead at the hands of the those who swore to protect him; The very persons who swore to protect every community member in the City of Memphis from this type of violence.
I’ve experienced a variety of emotions since first viewing this incident. I’ve felt anger, sadness, and empathy, to name a few. After processing those feelings, I began to feel a sense of bewilderment and confusion. How and why did something like this happen?
Again, I will be the first to admit I do not have all the intimate details regarding this incident, however what I witnessed does not require me to have all the information in order to determine that something went completely and horribly wrong.
Law enforcement officers are expected to treat each person as a human being, and to treat everyone with the dignity and respect that is deserved. It is the foundation by which we build trust between our communities and the those sworn to protect the members of those communities. Without that trust, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to foster an environment where community members feel safe. Transparency and accountability at the highest levels are key factors in fostering and maintaining that trust.
Law enforcement can be a dangerous profession, with officers facing constant unpredictable situations while they are on duty. Because of this reality, it is critical that we in our profession focus heavily on how officers are trained.
We must make every effort to provide our officers with the necessary tools they need to provide professional police service.
The majority of our Nation’s officers are good people who are trying to make a positive impact on the communities they are serving. When such situations unfold similar to the one that led to the death of Tyre Nichols, it is imperative that those who are responsible be held accountable for their actions.
My sincerest condolences go to the Nichols family and the Memphis community while they grieve for the loss of their loved one, their friend, their neighbor. We must all try to learn something from this unfortunate situation. Although we unfortunately can’t change the outcome of what happened January 7, we all have an obligation to do our part to avoid this kind of tragedy in the future.
—Keith M. Cross, Chief of Police, Aurora Police Department