Bend Police voice reactions to George Floyd’s death, issues of police brutality

Police Chief Jim Porter issues statement on man's 'brutal murder' by police

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Reaction is pouring in across the country, including Central Oregon, about the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was unarmed and handcuffed, pleading that he could not breathe.

The viral video that a witness captured caused many communities to engage in protest, but some protests that started peaceful turned violent, leading to riots.

NewsChannel 21 spoke to Bend police officers Friday about Floyd's death and how it was handled.

Officer Scott Schaier says the placement of a knee on a person's neck during an arrest is not protocol.

"Absolutely not -- my entire experience in law enforcement of 11 years have never been taught to place any part of our bodies on someone's neck," Schaier said. "We know the effects of that, we know how quickly people can lose their breath. So we adamantly train it constantly to avoid that.."

Schaier says it's also the responsibility of a partner to correct that type of behavior if they notice excessive force.

Another officer Bend police officer, Karsten Van Alderwerelt, says oftentimes racial profiling and biases cause a division between officers and communities of color.

"Implicit bias training, I think, is a great first step for officers to take," Van Alderwerelt said. "You know, even if I don't understand or think I am a biased person, even if I don't act with prejudice or discrimination, there might be something in the way I was raised or my life experiences that make my actions or my judgments not what they should be."

Van Alderwerelt says his fellow officers to step up to break down the divide between communities.

"In terms of navigating that divide, I think it is very important for the police department to not play into those divisions,"Van Alderwerelt said. "We don't get to take sides."

Both Schaier and Van Alderwerelt have experience working with communities of color, and both served at other law enforcement agencies before joining Bend PD.

Lt. Clint Burleigh says in Bend, even though it's not as culturally diverse, many share the hurt and pain others are facing with incidents surrounding police brutality.

The Minneapolis officer at the center of George Floyd's death is now facing charges for third-degree murder and manslaughter. All three officers who spoke with NewsChannel 21 agreed that criminal charges were warranted. Burleigh said the violence is the result of a response to the lack of justice.

"A lot of people that are protesting right now are— and it appears they have every right to be out there expressing their frustration, fear, anger, all their emotions," Burleigh said. "It's a platform in which they need to be able to, as a people, we all need to be able to express ourselves."

A rally is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Bend at the corner of Wall Street and Greenwood Avenue to protest the Floyd killing and other recent incidents.

The Bend Police Department issued this statement Friday regarding the death of George Floyd:

"The City of Bend Police Department would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Floyd family for their tragic loss. The unfathomable actions taken by the Minneapolis officers that led to the murder of Mr. George Floyd have not gone unnoticed by our department and our community members. We are living in difficult times, and this horrific situation widens the gap of building trust between communities and law enforcement. We are saddened that such brutal actions were taken by a few that were sworn to protect.  

"We want our communities of color to feel safe, to feel included and know their lives matter. We want our actions to demonstrate that.  

"We have been in collaboration with community organizations and concerned community members to open up an ongoing conversation on how we can better protect and serve our communities of color. 

"We are committed to being in service to those that have been historically oppressed, and to working towards policy, programs, training, and community accountability that promotes an equitable and inclusive Bend."

It concluded with this message from Police Chief Jim Porter: 

"After 42 years of policing, I did not believe there existed a situation or set of circumstances that could bring me to tears in an instant or cause me to question my fundamental trust in American justice. But after having watched the brutal murder of George Floyd, I was proven wrong. 

"Watching men who were sworn to protect and serve do the opposite by victimizing and murdering has given me doubt.  The threat by leaders to march our military into cities and shooting those who are impacted by police brutality is cowardly and irresponsible and does nothing to resolve this challenge.

"Our national, state and local leaders need to focus on the causes of inequality, not the results, if they truly want to end this inequality. 

"Members of the Bend Police Department are committed to protecting and serving, not oppressing and assaulting the community members they are sworn to serve. As we move forward, know we are open to your ideas, your comments, and your help to make Bend a better place to live where diversity, equality and inclusion are our foundation," Porter concluded.