‘It is inexcusable,’ Richland Sheriff Lott says of man killed in police custody
Longtime Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott weighed in on the death of George Floyd, saying the action taken by police in Minnesota was “inexcusable.”
“This is sad beyond all measure to see law enforcement officers act as the four officers did in Minnesota,” Lott said Thursday in a statement. “There is absolutely no place for that kind of behavior by or from any law enforcement officer.”
Floyd, a black man, died while in police custody, the Associated Press reported.
A video showed Floyd gasping for breath during an arrest in which a white police officer kneeled on his neck for almost eight minutes. In the footage, George pleads that he can’t breathe.
“It is inexcusable,” Lott said. “Only by working together can we prevent this from ever happening again.”
Lott was not the only member of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to weigh in on the issue.
“George Floyd shouldn’t have died. Period,” deputy Chris Mastrianni said on Twitter. Now an investigator with the department, Mastrianni is familiar to many from his appearances on the popular A&E television show “Live PD.”
Another Richland County deputy who’s a regular on “Live PD” also called the situation sickening.
“It is sad anytime human life is taken or lost. Made me sick to my stomach to see how that situation occurred,” Lt. Danny Brown tweeted. “If we just simply treat each other like humans, a lil respect and compassion, this would not have occurred. No excuse for how that gentleman was treated after being cuff.”
Mastrianni’s tweet made it clear he does not want all law enforcement officers seen as the same as the officers in Minneapolis involved in Floyd’s death.
“I am sick and tired of this. The majority of officer suit up everyday to protect and serve our communities and protect each and every citizens. This was our calling. This is what we love to do. ... I’ll never stop protecting and serving,” Mastrianni said.
The officer who kneeled on Floyd and three others were fired Tuesday, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asked for criminal charges, the AP reported.
On Thursday the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in Minneapolis said they’re conducting “a robust criminal investigation.”
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association also condemned Floyd’s death.
“Cases like George Floyd must not only be condemned by the community but also by law enforcement leadership,” Executive Director Ryan Alphin said on Facebook. “While a full investigation will occur, there is no law enforcement training that teaches officers to kneel on a controlled suspects neck for minutes on end. Police officers should be held to the highest standard and the many diverse officers I know across South Carolina want it no other way. Law enforcement is a noble profession tarnished by a small percentage of officers who are not dedicated to upholding the oath they took to serve and protect their communities.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 2:06 PM.
