As people, groups, companies and more speak out against racial injustice and the death of George Floyd last Monday, the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Police Departments released messages to their respective communities.

The Carrboro Police Department shared a release on Friday, before protests began in Raleigh and Durham over the weekend. While the release did not specifically mention Floyd’s death, Police Chief Walter Horton said it is part of his department’s administrative rules to continuously review incidents when officers use force in order to be accountable to actions.

“The Carrboro Police Department is dedicated to having a police force that mirrors our community, not only in the officers we employ but also in how we perform our job,” wrote Horton. “I can ensure you that I will continue to hold our officers to a high standard and continue to train so that we may protect and serve this community in the way you deserve.”

The Chapel Hill Police Department shared a video message with the community on Monday, with Chief Chris Blue speaking on recent high-profile incidents of injustice done to African Americans. He described the Minneapolis Police officers’ actions as indefensible and said they dishonored their badges.

Blue also said he’s gotten many questions in the last few days about his department’s efforts to treat all community members fairly and shared those accomplishments or goals in the video.

“We’ve challenged our officers to make every encountered one where each individual is respected and valued,” said Blue. “We’ve worked hard to develop policies that require the use of body cameras. We conduct all of our practical training with the overarching principle of de-escalation in mind. We publish a quarterly report that contains important data, desegregated by race and ethnicity, about our enforcement activities.”

Later Monday night, the Hillsborough Police Department also shared a letter from its chief to the community. Chief Duane Hampton said he’d gotten many questions from residents about his departments’ policies and used the letter to express them in lieu of a public forum. He shared how Hillsborough Police review uses of force, maintain an internal accountability and complaint process, emphasize de-escalation in training and always activate body cameras.

“Our country continues to be plagued by the legacy of racial discrimination ― and discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation and identity, national origin and the many other ways people choose to try to divide us,” wrote Hampton. “We cannot allow this to continue. We all have to work together to put an end to this, and I believe police departments should be partners in making our world a better place. Our vision is to be ‘Policing at its Best.’ We will continue to work every day to live up to that ideal.”

The Orange County and Durham County Sheriff’s Offices also released statements specifically criticizing the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers’ actions and reaffirming their commitments to their respective communities. UNC Police Chief David Perry issued a statement last Thursday.

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill.

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