Joint statement from the Law Enforcement Council of Washington County

The death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police officers is appalling and indefensible. As members of the Washington County Law Enforcement Council, we are each appalled by what we saw in the video.

The brutality suffered by Mr. Nichols and the failure of any of these individuals to intervene is sickening and leaves everyone, including police officers, disgusted, infuriated, and outraged.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Mr. Nichols’ family, his friends, colleagues, and community.

The individuals involved have rightly been fired and criminally charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. There is no excuse for their actions. They have betrayed their oath of office, your trust in law enforcement, disgraced the law enforcement profession, and brought shame on the officers across the nation who work selflessly each day to protect their communities.

We support our community members who want to raise their voices and exercise their right to be heard.  We also echo the request of Tyre Nichols’ family and urge the community to do so in a peaceful, non-violent way. It is imperative that we not let violence and destruction distract us from the real challenge before us. Determining how we move beyond the pain and frustration and continue to identify, develop, and implement systemic solutions to build safer, more just communities is the highest priority.

As police and law enforcement leaders, we remain committed to emphasizing dignity and respect for all and instilling within our agencies a fundamental commitment to the preservation of human life.  But we must, and will, do more. We must remain committed to working together in partnership with all community members, advocacy organizations, elected officials, and others to build a future that ensures dignity, security, and justice for all.

Sincerely,

Henry Reimann

Law Enforcement Council Chair

Forest Grove Police Chief