OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE
After viewing the body cam videos of the beating of Tyre Nichols, we see no justification for the response of these five individuals – their actions were horrible. Those were not police officers at the time of that beating. Those were five, angry black men who took their frustrations out on a helpless unarmed black man.
These five individuals disgraced the profession like those before them who behaved similarly. You disgrace the badge when you beat unarmed human beings. You disgrace the badge when you punch defenseless women. You disgrace the badge when you forget why you wear the badge.
It’s hard enough being a black man in today’s society, but it’s twice as hard being a black police officer in today’s society.
We condemn the actions of these individuals who brutally beat a black man in the streets as if he was nothing. Black or white, beating a human being unmercifully must be met with the highest consequences under the law.
About The Ethical Society of Police
The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) was founded in 1972 by African-American officers to address race-based discrimination in the community and with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In 2018, the ESOP expanded to include membership for civilian and commissioned employees of law enforcement agencies within St. Louis County.
The Ethical Society of Police is an association of police officers and civilians whose mission is to bridge communications between the historically marginalized communities and law enforcement. The ESOP works to improve: community/police relations, develop policies and programs to reduce crime, elevate the status of minority civilians and police officers, encourage greater minority employment by law enforcement agencies, and increase professionalism in law enforcement. Membership is open to all races, nationalities, religions, political affiliations, sexual orientations and gender identities. For more information about the Ethical Society of Police, visit www.esopstl.org.
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